Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s Brother Kenneth Guantai Murangiri is set to undergo mental assessment following the murder charges of Meru Blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper.
Following the orders of the High Court in Kiambu, Murangiri who is an Administrative Police (AP) officer will undergo the assessment along with Vincent Muriithi ahead of their plea taking on January 29, 2024.
Investigations into Sniper’s murder, which occurred in December last year, have recommended murder charges against several suspects who have been linked to the blogger’s death.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) took over the case on December 19, 2023 after Kenyans, politicians, and government officials condemned the gruesome murder of Sniper, calling for immediate action against the perpetrators.
According to DCI investigations, detectives placed Vincent Muriithi alias Supuu at the core of the probe, right from luring the blogger to his death trap to the recovery of the body in Chiakariga, Tharaka Nithi County.
Three other suspects, Boniface Kithinji Njihia alias DJ Kaboom, Brian Mwenda alias Brayo, and Christus Manyara Kiambi are in police custody and will be arraigned on January 29.
Further investigations are ongoing with more arrests expected as the DCI works to uncover more parties that may have been involved in the murder. of Sniper.
The murder charges in Sniper’s case
On Thursday this week, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) confirmed it had sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against Mureithi and Murangiri, calling for their arraignment in the High Court of Kiambu.
“Upon thorough analysis of the facts, the DPP is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to sustain a charge of murder against Vincent Mureithi alias Supuu and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai alias Tali. Consequently, the DPP has directed that Vincent Mureithi and Kenneth Guantai be arraigned before the High Court at Kiambu for the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the penal code forthwith.
On December 22, 2023, Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor’s post-mortem results indicated that Sniper was tortured before being strangled to death. The blogger had injuries on the chest, head, and broken ribs.
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has constantly distanced herself from the murder of Sniper even as her brother is linked to the case, asking for unbiased investigations into the homicide of the young blogger.