Two suspects have been charged with murder in the killing of Meru Blogger Daniel Muthiani Bernard Alias Sniper.
However, while appearing before Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony, Vincent Murithi Kirimi Alias Supuu O’mioro and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai Alias Tali pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), they will be remanded at Industrial Area Remand Prison pending filing a bail application by the defense and a subsequent response by the prosecution.
“It is alleged that the accused persons, on diverse dates between 2nd December, 2023 and 6th December, 2023 at River Mutonga in Ciakariga Sub-County within Tharaka Nithi County, jointly with others not before court, murdered Daniel Muthiani Bernard Alias Sniper,” the ODPP said.
Further, the court directed the Probation and Aftercare Service to conduct a social inquiry and file a pre-bail report within 14 days.
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The matter will be mentioned on February 29.
The Meru blogger was reported missing on December 2, 2023, and his body was discovered dumped in Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi County on December 16, 2023.
The prosecution is convinced that there is enough evidence to support the accusation of murder against the two suspects, one of whom is the brother of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, the DPP said on Thursday after carefully examining the circumstances.
“Consequently, the DPP has directed that Vincent Mureithi Kirimi alias Supuu and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai alias Tali be arraigned before the High Court at Kiambu for the offense of Murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code forthwith,” the DPP stated on Friday.
The Kibera Law Courts are currently handling the ODPP's Miscellaneous Application Nos. E011 of 2024 and E025 of 2024 are filed against five further suspects.
Following the conclusion of the investigations, the DPP has promised to issue the necessary directives.
“The ODPP undertakes to prosecute the matter expeditiously,” added the DPP
A postmortem examination conducted by government pathologist Johansen Oduor at the Marimanti Level 4 Hospital Mortuary in Tharaka Nithi, Meru County, revealed that the blogger died after being strangled on the neck.
“There were no signs of struggle, and he seemed to have been completely subdued to a level that he could not fight back. We have taken some samples of organs that will be subjected to toxicology tests to establish whether there were substances used to achieve this,” explained Oduor.
Sniper’s family, fellow bloggers, and political leaders have called for swift investigations into the murder, urging authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
