How slain Meru blogger 'Sniper' was lured to his death

As investigations into the death of former Meru blogger Benard Muthiani, also known as Sniper, continue in court months after his demise, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has shed some light on the events surrounding the case.

Appearing before the Senate plenary for questioning on Wednesday, May 8, Kindiki stated that the murder case was still under investigation. 

The CS narrated to the plenary how Sniper met his death after receiving a phone call from one Vincent Mureithi, alias Supuu, on December 2, 2023.

"The deceased was at his home when he received a call from Vincent Mureithi, alias Supuu, who requested to meet him in Meru town to attend an alleged meeting with the governor of Meru, to discuss their differences," said Kindiki.

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Kindiki later detailed that after the blogger arrived in Meru town, he was abducted and driven to the Mutonga River in an area known as Chakariga in Tharaka Nithi County.

Here, he would be killed and his body thrown into the river. Sniper’s disappearance was later reported at Maua Police Station, and the body was discovered on December 6 by a resident fetching water at Majarani.

"Police officers from Chiakariga Police Station and DCI from Tharaka South visited the scene, and the unknown deceased body, which had visible injuries, was retrieved from the river Mutonga on December 7," he added.

The body was taken to the mortuary, where the family positively identified it. Detectives from the homicide investigation unit in Nairobi later took over the case due to what the CS termed as “political interest and emotional sentiments” about the gravity of the crime.

A postmortem conducted by a government pathologist in December revealed marks on the deceased's neck, indicating strangulation. 

Five suspects, including Boniface Githinji, alias DJ Kaboom, Vincent Kerimri, Kenneth Murangeri, Christus Manyara, and Brian Mwenda, alias Bryo, were accused in the murder case.

Kindiki further stated that investigations revealed that the five accused persons drove with the deceased from Meru town to the scene of the abduction, and then to the river where his body was disposed of.

"Kenneth Murangeri was particularly in constant communication with Vincent Mureithi, alias Supuu, during the time of luring the deceased, the abduction, and the disposal of the body. He thereafter met Vincent and the other accused persons at Makutano suburbs of Meru County after the execution of the crime," he explained.

The deceased, originally from Igembe, Meru County, was a political blogger known to criticise the Meru County governor and her administration until his death.