A pastor has told the High Court in Kibera that a mobile phone belonging to murdered Multimedia University of Kenya student Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye was discovered among church offerings, months before the trial of the man accused of killing her.
The witness, who also serves as an administrator at Jesus Is Alive Ministries, testified that an Oppo mobile phone was found while church collections were being counted on April 2, 2025.
She told the court that the church kept the device safely until police officers arrived to retrieve it after tracing the deceased’s phone to the church compound.
“We kept the phone in safe custody until police officers came looking for it. They informed us that call data indicated that the deceased’s phone had been within the church compound,” she told the court.
The testimony was presented during the murder trial of Erick Mutinda Philip, who is accused of killing the university student on March 30, 2025.
Silas Ochieng Elphine Otieno, who headed security at Multimedia University, also testified about the search for the missing student and the institution’s cooperation with investigators.
Otieno told the court that a search team discovered a decomposing body inside a water reservoir tank on the rooftop of a university hostel on April 2, 2025.
Police officers were notified and took control of the scene, where the body was identified as that of Sylvia.
The security official recounted how the university received information about her disappearance and worked alongside investigating officers to establish what had happened.
Neununa Mounira Namatsi, a fellow student who described Sylvia as a close friend and classmate, told the court about her attempts to contact the deceased after she went missing.
Namatsi also testified about the relationship between Sylvia and Mutinda, describing it as toxic and alleging that the accused had mistreated her.
According to the witness, Sylvia had at one point contemplated moving to a hostel outside the university to avoid repeated encounters with the accused.
However, her mother reportedly advised her to remain at the institution and complete her studies.
The court also heard testimony from Derrick Higai Luther, a student who shared a hostel room with Mutinda. He recounted their accommodation arrangements and interactions with university security personnel during the period under investigation.
Meghan Nasserian Kihara, who had previously shared a room with Sylvia, also took the stand and testified about her knowledge of the deceased and information she received after the body was discovered.
Mutinda is charged with murdering Sylvia on March 30, 2025, at Multimedia University of Kenya, along Magadi Road in Lang’ata Sub-County, Nairobi County. The prosecution is presenting witness testimony as the court continues hearing evidence in the case.
The trial is ongoing.
