The family of 19-year-old Sylvia Kemunto, a student at Multimedia University who was brutally murdered on campus, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the institution, demanding it admits liability for what they describe as a "preventable and tragic loss."
Represented by public interest legal organization Sheria Mtaani and lawyer Shadrack Wambui, the family has accused the university of gross negligence. In a formal letter to the Vice Chancellor, they detail troubling events leading up to and following March 30, 2025—the day Kemunto was discovered dead inside her hostel.
A post-mortem conducted on April 8 by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, in collaboration with the family’s physician, confirmed that Kemunto died from strangulation.
The main suspect, Philip Eric Mutinda, a fellow student, is believed to have gained unauthorized entry into the hostel before allegedly attacking her. The family says Kemunto had previously reported being harassed by the suspect, yet the university took no action to protect her.
"This was not an unforeseeable tragedy—it was one whose warning signs were visible and ignored," the demand letter states.
Another member of the legal team, lawyer Danstan Omari, criticized what he called the university’s “cold and deliberate silence,” pointing out that the administration has yet to issue any message of condolence.
"Such indifference is as cruel as the act itself," the letter adds.
Sheria Mtaani has warned that if the university fails to respond within the seven-day window, the family will initiate legal proceedings. This includes a petition to the Commission for University Education, seeking to have the institution’s charter revoked under Section 22 of the Universities Act.
