A brother of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, also known as Tali, is among two individuals facing murder charges in connection with the killing of blogger Daniel Muthiani Benard, alias Sniper.
Guantai is not only the governor's brother but also serves as a police officer and as Mwangaza's bodyguard.
Also to face murder charges is Vincent Mureithi Kirimi alias Supuu.
This is after Director of Public Prosecution Mulele Ingonga received a police investigation file and gave the directions on January 18.
“Upon thorough analysis of the facts, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the charge of murder against Vincent Mureithi Kirimi alias Supuu and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai alias Tali,” he said in a statement.
”Consequently, the DPP has directed that Vincent Mureithi Kirimi and Murangiri 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."
The prosecution also filed Miscellaneous Application No. E011 of 2024 and E025 of 2024 against five other suspects pending before Kibera Law Courts.
The sniper disappeared on December 2, 2023, before his body was recovered dumped in a thicket on the banks of River Mutonga in Tharaka Nithi County on December 16.
The Chief Government pathologist Johansen Oduor who conducted the postmortem on December 22 said the deceased was tortured before being strangled.
He also had fractured ribs.
Mwangaza’s sister Miriam Guantai and her husband and the governor’s son were also grilled over the murder.
Mwangaza accompanied them to the sessions at the Meru DCI offices.
They denied any role in the murder of Sniper. A court in Kiambu had ordered police to charge five suspects with the murder of the blogger on Wednesday, January 17.
The prosecution had on Friday, January 12 asked a Kiambu High Court for a continued detention of the five suspects in connection with the murder for a further 14 days to allow the police to conclude their investigations.
Makadara magistrate Monica Kivuti has passed away