NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 19 – A Kiambu court has ordered the continued detention of two prime suspects in connection with the killing of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani Bernard, known as Sniper, for an additional seven days.
This extension will allow for a mental assessment of the suspects before they can enter their pleas.
The decision to extend their detention came after an application by the prosecution team, led by Wangui Gichuhi, who sought to determine the suspects’ mental fitness before proceeding with the murder charge.
The Deputy Registrar of Kiambu High Court, Jackline Karani, has directed that Vincent Mureithi Kirimi, also known as Supuu, and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, also known as Tali, undergo a psychiatric assessment, with the resulting report to be presented in court.
“The suspects will be held at Muthaiga Police Station until January 29, 2024, when they are expected to enter their pleas,” announced the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Friday.
The Meru blogger went missing on December 2, 2023, and his body was later found dumped in Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi County on December 16, 2023.
On Thursday, the DPP confirmed that, after a comprehensive analysis of the evidence, the prosecution is satisfied that there is enough proof to sustain the murder charge against the two suspects, one of whom is the brother of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The ODPP has filed Miscellaneous Application No. E011 of 2024 and E025 of 2024 against five other suspects, and these cases are currently pending before Kibera Law Courts.
The DPP has committed to issuing appropriate directions once the investigations are completed. “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 as a result of strangulation. Sniper’s body showed signs of neck injuries, fractured ribs, and head injuries, all suggesting strangulation and a lack of oxygen.
