Erick Mutinda, the university student accused of killing fellow student Sylvia Kemunto at Multimedia University in March has formally been charged with the murder.
Mutinda took plea before Kibera High Court judge Diana Kavedza in a virtual session in which he was produced from the Nairobi Remand Prison.
He denied the charge and the hearing was set for January 6, 2026.
The plea-taking followed a psychiatric assessment report that showed Mutinda was fit to face trial over the murder of Kemunto. Justice Kavedza said a report filed in court on July 23 showed the mental assessment test had found Mutinda fit to plead to the charges.
His case will be heard while he remains in remand. An oral application by his lawyer Johnstone Junior for a review of the bond ruling was declined by the court.
“The circumstances have not changed and so the application is declined,” Justice Kavedza ruled.
The court had in June declined the bid to release Mutinda on bail after a prebail report advised against the same, citing concerns over his suitability.
His release on bond or bail had been opposed by both the Director of Public Prosecutions and lawyers representing the victim’s family led by Danstan Omari, Samson Nyaberi and Shadrack Wambui.
They want the accused to remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The parties said Mutinda may abscond court sessions, given he disappeared from the university after allegedly committing the heinous crime.
Mutinda was arrested on April 3, after he surrendered to authorities at Sultan Hamud police station in Makueni county after being on the run for four days.
He is believed to have fled to his rural home after allegedly killing Kemunto and stashing her body in a water tank at the rooftop of a hostel building at the university.
The prosecution has lined up 17 witnesses to testify against Mutinda, most of whom are students from Multimedia University.
So far, the prosecution has provided all written witness statements to the defense team.
Mutinda is charged with murder. He is accused of killing Kemunto on March 30, 2025, at Multimedia University.
Kemunto’s body was discovered in a water tank at the university days after she had been reported missing.
A postmortem revealed that she died from strangulation and had also sustained head injuries caused by a blunt object.
Justice Kavedza directed that four of the prosecutions witnesses be availed to testify on January 6 when hearing commences.
