DPP: We are yet to receive slain Meru blogger Sniper's file from DCI

Crime scene. [File, Standard]

Following concerns from a section of Kenyans on social media in regard to the investigation of slain Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper, the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has clarified the position of the case.

In a statement posted on their X platform, ODPP stated that it had yet to receive the inquiry file into the offence of murder from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

"Following the recovery of the body of the abducted person, the ODPP directed the DCI to undertake investigations for the offence of murder and submit the resultant inquiry file for perusal and further directions," said ODPP in a statement.

ODPP further detailed that a suspect, Vincent Muriithi, had been arrested on suspicion of abducting the deceased.

"Owing to the fact that the whereabouts of the abducted person was unknown, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), through the ODPP filed criminal miscellaneous application No.E116 of 2023 seeking custodial orders pending completion of investigations.

"The Chief Magistrate's court in Maua, Meru County declined to grant custodial orders as sought by the DCI through the ODPP but instead granted the suspect cash bail of Sh20,000 and ordered the suspect to report to the police station every 14 days. The court also set the application for mention on January 5, 2024."

ODPP says it shall give the appropriate directions once it has received the inquiry file for the murder and any charges disclosed by the evidence gathered.
Muthiani's body was discovered on December 16, 2023, in Mutonga River, Tharaka Nithi, after he went missing for two weeks.

A postmortem conducted by Chief Government pathologist Johansen Oduor showed that he had been strangled.