The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has been granted 21 days to continue detaining three suspects linked to the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Snipper pending probe.
Kibera Senior Resident Magistrate William Lokopoiyot on Monday, January 8, 2024, ordered that the trio namely Boniface Githinji alias Kaboom, Brian Mwenda alias Brayo Grace Kathambi Kithunji be detained at Kilimani police station pending completion of investigations.
"I find that the police have made out a case to warrant the suspects be held in custody pending investigations. I hereby order the three suspects be held in police cells for 21 days," Magistrate Lokopoiyot ordered.
The court directives came after the DCI detectives sought to be allowed to continue holding the three saying the investigation into the death of the blogger is complex.
"The preliminary investigations have linked the suspects to the murder of the deceased person. We need more time to interrogate them and record statements," the investigating officer Geofrey Tegei told the court.
"We have more evidence that has vital information, also the phones recovered from the suspect are yet to be taken to the laboratory for examinations."
He added that justice for the victims and his family will not be attained if the suspects are released before the investigations are completed.
"The investigating team requires sufficient time to unravel the motive of the murder and identify those involved," the detective told the court.
In addition, the DCI detective stated that they needed enough time to unravel the complex nature of murder by tracing the last movement of the deceased person.
"The police is yet to subject the phones recovered from the respondents to cyber laboratory for forensic analysis, " the court heard.
While seeking to deny the suspects bail, the police informed the court there was a need to keep the three in safe custody due to hostility from Meru County residents.
Further, the police stated that if the suspects are freed on bail they are likely to interfere with the ongoing investigations and abscond due to the seriousness of the offence they intend to face.
The matter will be mentioned on January 29.
More suspects
The three suspects now bring to seven the number of suspects so far arrested over the death of the Meru blogger who went missing on December 2, 2023, and his mutilated body found on December 16, 2023.
The trio were arrested over the weekend in the probe, which has drawn in Governor Kawira Mwangaza's brother Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, who is being held for questioning.
Others arrested include Kenneth Mutua Matiri, Fredrick Muriuki Kiugu, Timothy Kinoti and Vincent Kirimi.
The arrest came as Mwangaza alleged that there was a political witch hunt in the ongoing investigation into the murder.
A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of the deceased at the Marimanti Level 4 Hospital mortuary in Tharaka Nithi, Meru County, revealed that he died of strangulation.
Government pathologist Johansen Oduor, who conducted the examination, said Sniper had marks on his neck and exhibited signs of a person who had lacked oxygen.
He also had fractured ribs and showed injuries.
