Burial of Meru blogger 'Sniper' postponed again, one year after his brutal murder

The burial of late Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper, who died a year ago, has been postponed indefinitely with the family blaming a land dispute.

The late Sniper, who was abducted on December 2, 2023, and whose body was recovered from the Mutonga River in Tharaka Nithi, was supposed to be buried on Friday, December 27 (tomorrow). 

This is the second time this month that the family has postponed the funeral after the last rites, scheduled for December 13, were cancelled due to delayed justice in the courts.

The late blogger's body has been lying in a morgue since December last year after the family and neighbours vowed not to bury the remains until justice was served.

Speaking to journalists on Christmas Day, Ms Ann Kanjira, the blogger's mother, said they had received threats from a prominent businessman over the family's land.

"I have received threats from the businessman who claims to own our family land. He wants to fence the land," said Ms Kanjira.
Mr John Mutia, a family member, said the late Muthiani's family land title deed was in the hands of the local tycoon.

"While we were planning Muthiani's burial on December 27, the parents received threats from Moses Lichoro. He told the family to leave their land. We want to address the threat to the family before we bury Muthiani," said Mr Mutia.

He said the family had reported the threats to the police and were awaiting action.

But Mr Lichoro denied threatening Sniper's family, saying he had legally acquired the land from Muthiani's father.

"I first bought four acres of land from Sniper's father in 2010 and we got title deeds in 2014. The fact is that the late Sniper has his land where he lived with his family and has a title deed in his name," said Mr Lichoro.

He said the dispute was over 30 points of land he bought from Muthiani's father in February last year.

"Last year I bought 30 points from the father and this is the land they are talking about. The family witnessed the transaction. But recently the fence on the 30 points was destroyed. I sent the area manager to the family to ask them to repair the fence. I did not make any threats as alleged.

Mr Lichoro linked the dispute to an incident in February when he lost property worth more than Sh50 million after a mob attacked his businesses, home and farm in Kabuitu.

Several suspects have been charged in court over the arson attack and destruction of Miraa farms.

On December 13, the family linked their decision to cancel the funeral to delayed justice and the lack of a family lawyer in the case.

"We have discovered that the court has not set a date for the hearing of the case. However, we will bury Muthiani on December 27 even if justice is not served," said Julius Muthee, the blogger's brother, at the time.

Five suspects, including Vincent Murithi, Kenneth Guantai, Bonface Kithinji, Christus Manyara and Brian Mwenda, have since been charged with Muthiani's abduction and murder in a Kiambu court.

However, the family is calling for more arrests of the planners and financiers of the murder.

The case is scheduled for mention on February 4, 2025, while the trial is set for June next year.

According to police reports and a statement from the Ministry of Interior shared with the Senate, the late Muthiani disappeared after he was lured by Vincent Murithi for a meeting with Governor Kawira Mwangaza.

"Investigations revealed that the five suspects drove the blogger from Meru town to the river where his body was dumped. Kenneth Murangiri was particularly inconsistent in his communication with Vincent Muthi during the abduction of the blogger and the disposal of his body..." former Home Affairs CS Kithure Kindiki, now Deputy President, told the Senate in May.

The politics surrounding Muthiani's death found its way into Governor Mwangaza's impeachment proceedings after MCAs accused her of falsely claiming that Sh86 million had been raised for the late blogger's family.

Muthiani's widow, Irene Kawira, was one of the County Assembly's star witnesses during the impeachment trial in the Senate.

Last year, Ms Mwangaza denied any involvement in Muthiani's abduction and murder, blaming the tragic incident on her political opponents.

Ms Mwangaza's brother is among the five charged, while her husband and sister recorded statements in January as investigations into the murder gathered pace.

Detectives also raided the Meru governor's official residence in search of evidence.

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