Murder charges to be preferred against 2 suspects in killing of blogger ‘Sniper’

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 19 – The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that two suspects implicated in the killing of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani Bernard, alias Sniper be charged with murder.

In a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the suspects to be charged are Vincent Mureithi Kirimi, popularly known as Supuu, and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, alias Tali.

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.

On Thursday, the DPP announced that after a thorough analysis of the facts, the prosecution is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the charge of murder against the two suspects, one of whom Is Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s brother.

“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 ODPP has filed Miscellaneous Application No. E011 of 2024 and E025 of 2024 against five other suspects, which are pending before Kibera Law Courts.

The DPP has committed to issuing appropriate directions upon completion of the investigations.

“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.

Sniper’s body displayed marks on his neck, fractured ribs, and injuries on his head, suggesting strangulation, with signs indicating a lack of oxygen.

“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.