Blogger Sniper Murder: DCI Arrests Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza's Son, Brother

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s son and brother are among five suspects arrested for the murder of Meru-based blogger Daniel Muthiani commonly known as Sniper.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has filed an application seeking to detain the five suspects who include Kenneth Mutua, Fredrick Muriuki, Frankline Kimathi, Timothy Kinoti (son) and Murangiri Kenneth (brother).

In an application filed at the Kiambu Magistrate Court, the DCI wants the five suspects detained for 21 days at Muthaiga Police Station to enable the DCI sleuths to conclude investigations.

Deceased Meru-based blogger Daniel Muthiani commonly known as Sniper. /FILE

The five suspects were arrested on Thursday, January 4 in Meru County with the investigation officials booking them in various police stations in Kiambu and Nairobi County.

“That from the time the respondents were arrested and the time to conclude the investigations have not been adequate and the applicant requires 21 days to enable the conclusion of the investigations while the respondent is in police custody,” the application read.

The application indicated that the five suspects had lured Sniper via a phone call that Governor Mwangaza wanted to meet him to strike a truce, having been the subject of the blogger's criticism.

The deceased then travelled from his home in Igembe South to meet the five suspects in Meru town before he went missing, a matter which prompted the family to raise an alarm.

Sniper disappeared on December 2, 2023, and his body was found dumped in Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi County on December 16, 2023.

A post-mortem done by government pathologist Johansen Oduor on the deceased revealed that he died of strangulation, with Sniper’s kin urging the relevant authorities to do further investigations.

According to the pathologist, Sniper had marks on his neck and he exhibited signs of a person who had lacked oxygen as well as fractured ribs and injuries on his head which suggested that he was strangled before being thrown into a river.

"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," Oduor said.

His disappearance and murder gained nationwide attention with various politicians calling for swift action to be taken against the perpetrators.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria promised action taken against what he claimed were powerful forces linked to the murder.

His Interior counterpart, Kithure Kindiki, vowed stern action against those who were deemed responsible for Sniper's death.

"Those responsible for organising, financing and executing the cruel murder of Daniel Muthiani, alias Sniper, have a date with justice. 

"Detectives are concluding the process of identifying the evil perpetrators, including those who lured the young man to his death and those who tortured, murdered and dumped his body in an attempt to conceal the terrible crime," he stated.