Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP)

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has issued a statement to set the record straight on the case of slain Meru blogger Daniel Mithiani Bernard, popularly known as Sniper.

The ODPP has broken its silence following a public outcry from the members of the public led by popular bloggers, among them Dennis Itumbi.

So, a SUSPECT in the abduction of SNIPER was arrested, but @ODPP_KE did NOT give DIRECTIONS on how to proceed. @DCI_Kenya told court they were waiting for DPP. Why the delay Mr. DPP? Why is DPP silent internally and publicly? #IamSNIPER pic.twitter.com/w25y6B78yx

— -Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) December 26, 2023

The outcry followed revelations that a suspect identified as Vincent Muriithi Kirimi alias Supuu Wa Mioro had been arrested on suspicion of the abduction of the blogger, then later released.

Kenyans were also angered with revelations that the ODPP had failed to advise the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on the next course of action following the arrest of the suspect.

Blogger Siniper’s Murder Suspect Released on Cash Bail

However, the ODPP in a statement released this morning says the DCI, through the ODPP, had filed Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. E116 of 2023, seeking custodial orders pending the completion of investigations, which was declined by the court that released the suspect on a Kshs. 20,000 cash bail.

The suspect was then ordered by the court to report to the police station every 14 days, with the application for a mentioning date set for January 5th, 2024.

Investigations into Sniper’s Murder

The ODPP in the statement further notes that it directed the DCI to conduct investigations into the offense of murder and submit the resulting inquiry file for review and further directions, after the body of the blogger was discovered.

An autopsy done on his body on Friday showed he was strangled on the neck.

Government pathologist Johansen Oduor conducted the examination on Friday at the Marimanti Level 4 Hospital Mortuary.

Oduor said Sniper had marks on his neck and he exhibited signs of a person who had lacked oxygen.

He also had fractured ribs and showed injuries on his head which suggested that he was strangled before being thrown into a river.

DNA Identification

Officials picked up DNA samples to confirm he was the one since his body had already decomposed.

The examination of the body showed there were no defence injuries thus raising questions on whether he was subdued to a level where he could not defend himself. 

Family members said the postmortem was done satisfyingly and appealed to security agencies to arrest culprits for justice to be served.

Sniper disappeared on December 2, before his body was discovered on December 16, 2023.