CS Moses Kuria Vows Action On 'Powerful Forces' Behind Meru Blogger Murder

Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has promised action taken against what he claims are powerful forces linked to the murder of Meru-based blogger Daniel Muthiani commonly known as Sniper.

In a statement on Friday, December 29, the CS hinted at a sinister plot that played a part in Sniper's disappearance, a matter which he thought was not an ordinary one.

"The disappearance of Meru-based human rights and political activist Snipper is not something to be taken for granted. Verily, verily I say unto the one responsible- You will not get away with this. I will pursue this matter to the bitter end," he stated in part.

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

The former Gatundu Member of Parliament hit out at gang profiling in the Mount Kenya region, stating that this was stigmatising the youth and classifying them as members of the outlawed Mungiki sect.

He further accused fake Mount Kenya Kingpins of the profiling which he said was a short-term thing.

"The cold-blooded murder of Snipper is in line with the continued profiling and stigmatisation of Mt Kenya youth, branding them as members of Mungiki and other outlawed gangs. When the threshold of what is legit Humanitarian standards falls this low, the outcome is what you see.

"Now tell your fake Kingpins to live with the ignominy of their short-termism. I will never do anything for the political expediency of the moment.  Forgive me for the outburst. I am very upset," he raged on.

Sniper disappeared on December 2, 2023, and his body was discovered two weeks later.

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.

Kuria joined blogger Dennis Itumbi who had called on various investigative authorities to get to the bottom of the matter.

Itumbi had called out both the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). However, the ODPP noted that the office has yet to receive a file over the gruesome murder of the blogger.

“The DCI, through the ODPP applied criminal miscellaneous application no. E116 of 2023 seeking custodial orders pending completion of investigations," ODDP statement read. 

Many leaders and activists condemned Sniper's gruesome murder, which also led to demonstrations in Meru town.