The Kenyan government has formed a special unit inside the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to track threats against bloggers who express themselves online. The Cabinet Secretary of Interior, Kithure Kindiki, informed senators that police are looking into online attacks and violence against Kenyans who express different viewpoints on social media platforms. The government’s move is meant protect “bloggers exercising their freedom of speech through the cyberspace.”
According to the CS, detectives from DCI are currently investigating several cases in 19 counties, with a particular focus on gangs involved in these crimes. Kindiki addressed the Kenyan Senate and the spoke of the murder of a Meru based blogger, Daniel Muthiani Bernard, popularly known as Sniper.
Sniper was abducted on December 2, 2023. Two weeks later on the 16th of December, his lifeless body was found in the neighbouring Tharaka Nithi county on the banks of Mutonga River. After carrying out a postmortem on December 22, government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor, concluded that Muthiani was tortured to death.
Allegations arose claiming Muthiani’s death was linked to his critic of Meru’s governor, Kawira Mwangaza. Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda queried the CS on the same, stating that all the key evidence of the murder pointed to a motive to stop criticism of Governor Kawira.
“Key evidence for any murder is the body, weapon and the motive. In this case, you have the body and motive which was criticising the governor. We have Ken who is the brother of the governor, and Supuu who is a personal assistant to the governor’s husband and the crime scene,” said Ms. Mutinda.
Kindiki pointed out that the case is complicated but they have a “water-tight” process and all the culprits will account for their actions.
“We believe this is a very complicated crime and there could have been other people beyond the five who may have been responsible but we are yet to establish direct or circumstantial evidence so that we can open additional charges for any additional people,” said Mr. Kindiki.
A brother of Governor Mwangaza, Mr. Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, is among five suspects who have been arrested and arraigned in court. The others are Vincent Muriithi, Christus Manyara Kiambi alias Chris, Brian Mwenda alias Brayo and Bonface Kithinji Njiiyia alias Dj Kaboom.
The case was last mentioned on 23rd April and is set to resume on the 24th of May this year. The blogger is yet to be buried as the family waits for justice to take its course.
