Governor Kawira Mwangaza's brother Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, also known as Tali, faces murder charges alongside another individual in the case involving the death of blogger Daniel Muthiani Benard. Guantai, the brother of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, holds dual roles as both a police officer and Mwangaza's personal bodyguard.
Vincent Mureithi Kirimi, also known as Supuu, is set to face murder charges. The Director of Public Prosecution, Mulele Ingonga, issued directions on January 18 after receiving the police investigation file.
“Upon thorough analysis of the facts, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the charge of murder against Vincent Mureithi Kirimi alias Supuu and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai alias Tali,” he said in a statement.
”Consequently, the DPP has directed that Vincent Mureithi Kirimi and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai be arraigned before the High Court at Kiambu for the offence of Murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code forthwith."
Miscellaneous Application No. E011 of 2024 and E025 of 2024 have been filed by the prosecution against five additional suspects, and these cases are currently pending at Kibera Law Courts.
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The disappearance of the sniper occurred on December 2, 2023, and his body was later discovered discarded in a thicket along the banks of River Mutonga in Tharaka Nithi County on December 16.
Chief Government pathologist Johansen Oduor, who performed the postmortem on December 22, revealed that the victim had undergone torture before succumbing to strangulation. Additionally, the deceased exhibited fractured ribs.
The murder investigation also involved questioning Mwangaza's sister, Miriam Guantai, as well as her husband and the governor's son.
Mwangaza joined them during the sessions at the Meru DCI offices, where they asserted their innocence. Despite a court in Kiambu directing the police to file charges against five suspects for the blogger's murder on Wednesday, January 17, they denied any involvement in the crime.
On Friday, January 12, the prosecution sought an extension of the detention period for the five suspects linked to the murder in a Kiambu High Court. The request aimed to grant the police an additional 14 days to finalize their investigations.
