- He said the crime is complicated and the investigative agencies are looking at other possible participants.
- He noted that for the five suspects already in custody, the state has a solid case against them.
Image: MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki now says that the state has a water-tight case against five suspects in custody over the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani Bernard, alias Sniper.
Speaking on Wednesday, when he appeared before the Senate to respond to questions, Kindiki said there had been no delays in the case.
He said the crime is complicated and the investigative agencies are looking at other possible participants.
He noted that for the five suspects already in custody, the state has a solid case against them.
"Honourable Speaker, investigations were commenced immediately after the report was made and from the foregoing, it is not true that there has been a delay in investigations. What there has been is that we believe this is a very complicated crime," Kindiki said.
"There could have been other people beyond the five who may have been responsible but we are yet to establish any direct or circumstantial evidence to open additional charges for any additional people. For the five we have a watertight murder case against the five."
The Interior CS assured the Senators that the case has not been concluded and that all people involved in Sniper's murder will be brought to book.
He insisted that the government has full confidence in the work of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
He said this is particularly on the inquiry and investigation carried out by the Homicide Unit and that there is no cause for alarm.
"Investigations have not concluded, the murder file is still open and murder files are never closed and there is no statute of limitations on murder offences. Therefore, I want to assure the house that all persons who may have participated in any way, directly or indirectly in the heinous and cruel murder of the deceased will be held accountable," the CS said.
Kindiki called on the public to give any information that could lead to the capture of all involved in Sniper's murder.
He assured Kenyans that no one would interfere with the matter.
"We will not allow crime to thrive because of interference. Nobody is powerful enough to interfere with statecraft, especially on National security," Kindiki said.
The CS was responding to a question by Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi on the status of investigations into the abduction, torture and execution of Sniper.
Murungi also wanted to know what was delaying the conclusion of the case.
In December last year, Kindiki said all involved in Sniper's murder would eventually have a date with justice.
Sniper disappeared on December 2, before his body was discovered on December 16, 2023.
An autopsy conducted by government pathologist Johansen Oduor at the Marimanti Level 4 Hospital Mortuary showed that Sniper died of strangulation.
He also had fractured ribs and showed injuries on his head which suggested that he was strangled before being thrown into a river.
Sniper is yet to be buried.