By Grace Gilo
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has opposed the release on bond of university student Erick Mutinda Philip, who faces charges for the murder of Sylvia Kemunto Ayaye, a 20-year-old first-year student at the Multimedia University of Kenya.
During the proceedings, prosecuting counsel Peris Maina urged the court to recognize the alarming rise in femicide cases in the country, which has sparked public outrage and debate.
Maina argued that allowing the accused to be released on bond could jeopardize community safety and disturb public order, peace, and security.
She highlighted that the increase in femicide incidents has led to widespread protests held on January 27, 2024, and December 10, 2024, across 11 counties, where demonstrators called for justice and stronger measures against the killing of women.
“The court was further informed that Erick poses a flight risk, as he allegedly fled the university premises after committing the offence and contacted a prosecution witness, expressing his intention to cross the border into Tanzania,” stated the ODPP.
The DPP also pointed out that nine of the prosecution witnesses are students from the accused’s university, including his classmates and roommate. There is a strong possibility that the accused could interfere with these key witnesses if released.
Erick is accused of murdering Sylvia Kemunto on 30th March 2025 at the Multimedia University of Kenya, located along Magadi Road in Karen, Lang’ata Sub-County.
The two were previously in an alleged intimate relationship, which reportedly ended in February 2025. It is alleged that Erick visited Sylvia in her hostel room to discuss their breakup, during which he manually strangled her, placed her body in a green suitcase, and transported it to his hostel room.
The body was later discovered in a half-filled water reservoir on the rooftop of the building where he resided.
“A post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia due to ligature strangulation, as well as head injuries resulting from blunt force trauma,” ODPP highlighted.
The prosecution plans to rely on 19 witnesses to prove its case.
“Lady Justice Diana Mochache has allocated four hearing dates for the case: 23rd and 24th June 2025 and 21st and 22nd July 2025,” stated the ODPP.
The prosecution has committed to presenting all its witnesses within that period. The court also directed the accused, through his defence counsel, to file a replying affidavit in an application by the DPP’s objection to bond within seven days, ahead of a ruling on the bond application.