Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s brother on the spot over blogger Sniper’s murder
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ordered that two suspects involved in the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani Bernard, alias Sniper, be charged with murder.
The two include Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza’s brother Murangiri Kenneth Guantai alias Tali and Vincent Mureithi Kirimi alias Supuu.
Guantai is a police officer and was a bodyguard to Mwangaza.
DPP Renson Ingonga said his office had received police investigation file for his advice.
“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,” a statement released by the DPP to the media read in part.
“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 offence of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code forthwith.”
The prosecution filed Miscellaneous Application No. E011 of 2024 and E025 of 2024 against five other suspects who are pending before Kibera Law Courts.
The DPP has committed to issuing appropriate directions upon completion of the investigations.
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.
A post-mortem conducted on December 22, 2023 by the government’s chief pathologist, Johansen Oduor, revealed that the blogger had been tortured before being strangled.
According to court documents, the killers lured Muthiani to his death by promising to arrange a meeting with Governor Mwangaza.
According to court documents, Muthiani had criticised the governor in his video posts on social media and the meeting, the suspects said, was to discuss how to establish a working relationship with the county chief.
A call data analysis of the suspects also established a pattern of communication before the killing of the blogger.
The probe seeks to, among other things, establish the mastermind of the plan to eliminate Sniper and how the killers were procured.
Under section 20 of the Penal Code, a principal offender includes the one who committed the actual act, one who abets or aids or omits to do something for purposes of aiding or abetting the commission of an offence.
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