Meru Blogger Sniper Murder Draws CS Kindiki's Attention

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has vowed stern action against those deemed to be responsible for the murder of Meru-based blogger Daniel Muthiani commonly known as Sniper.

In a statement on Friday, December 29, the CS affirmed that the criminal justice system would rein in those who played a role in executing the murder of Sniper, including financing the vile criminal act.

Furthermore, he revealed that detectives working on the case are wrapping up the process of identifying the perpetrators who enticed and tortured the young man, ultimately leading to his tragic demise.

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

"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.

Kindiki's statement came on the same day his Public Service counterpart, Moses Kuria promised action taken against what he alleged were powerful forces behind the murder.

"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.

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.

"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.