Meru blogger 'Sniper' to be buried one year after brutal murder
Political activist and blogger Daniel Muthiani, alias 'Sniper'.
What you need to know:
- Muthiani went missing in Meru town on December 2, 2023, before his body was found weeks later on the banks of the Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi County.
- His body has been lying in the morgue ever since, with reports that some well-wishers had offered to pay for its preservation.
Murdered Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani, alias Sniper, will be buried on December 13, one year after he was abducted, tortured and murdered in a case that drew local and national attention.
The blogger's family said they had finally agreed to bury his remains, despite an earlier stance that he would not be buried until justice was served.
Muthiani went missing in Meru town on December 2, 2023, before his body was found weeks later on the banks of the Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi County.
His body has been lying in the morgue ever since, with reports that some well-wishers had offered to pay for its preservation.
A post-mortem carried out by government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor revealed that Sniper had been tortured to death.
Five suspects – Vincent Murithi, Kenneth Guantai, Bonface Kithinji, Christus Manyara and Brian Mwenda – have since been charged in a Kiambu court with Muthiani's abduction and murder.
Mr Julius Muthee, the blogger's brother, said the funeral would include two prayer sessions at Maili Tatu Stadium and at his home in Kabuitu.
The family and the funeral committee had previously set the burial for August 8, but it was postponed.
“As a family, we have settled on December 13 as the day to lay our brother to rest. We urge all Meru residents and well-wishers who were concerned by the murder of Muthiani to support the family. Even as we lay him to rest, we are still waiting for justice to be served,” Mr Muthee said.
Mr Francis Mutuma, a neighbour of the dead blogger's family, called on the judiciary to ensure speedy justice.
“We hope that the burial of Sniper will not put the brakes on the pursuant for justice. This should be a wakeup call to the government to ensure the killers are brought to book,” Mr Mutuma said.
Igembe East MCA Titus Murithi said although five suspects had been charged, there was still hope that those who ordered Muthiani's murder would be brought to justice.
“Our demand has been that the financiers of the murder of Sniper be brought to book. This remains our clarion call even as we lay our brother to rest,” Mr Murithi said.
Read: Sniper murder: Breakthrough as police find car used in abduction, dumping of Meru blogger's body
According to police reports and a statement from the Ministry of Interior submitted to the Senate, Muthiani disappeared after being lured by Vincent Murithi to a meeting with Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
“Investigations revealed that the five suspects drove the deceased from Meru town to the river where his body was disposed of. Kenneth Murangiri was particularly in constant communication with Vincent Murithi during the abduction of the deceased and disposal of the body…” Kithure Kindiki, then Interior Cabinet Secretary and now the Deputy President, said in May.
Muthiani's death had a major impact on politics in Meru County, where Governor Mwangaza's claim that MCAs had raised Sh86 million for the late blogger's family was one of the grounds for impeachment upheld by the Senate in August.
Muthiani's widow, Irene Kawira, was one of the County Assembly's star witnesses during the impeachment trial.
There was drama in the Senate after the late Muthiani's mother broke down and cried, temporarily halting the impeachment hearings.
Last year, Ms Mwangaza denied any involvement in Muthiani's abduction and murder, blaming the incident on her political opponents.
Ms Mwangaza's brother is among the five charged, while her husband and sister recorded statements in January as the murder investigation gathered pace.
Detectives also raided Ms Mwangaza's official residence in search of evidence.
