The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) clarified Tuesday the status of the case involving the abduction and murder of Daniel Muthiani Bernard.
The statement comes after social media reports accused the ODPP of not providing direction on how to proceed after a suspect was arrested in the abduction.
“The ODPP wishes to clarify the correct position on the case of the abduction of Daniel Muthiani Bernard (deceased),” the statement read.
Following Bernard’s abduction, Vincent Muriithi Kirimi, also known as Supuu Wa Mioro, was arrested on suspicion of the offense of abduction. With Bernard’s whereabouts unknown, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, through the ODPP, filed an application seeking custodial orders pending the completion of investigations.
The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maua denied the custodial order request but granted Kirimi bail of KES 20,000 and ordered him to report to the police station every 14 days. The court also set the application for a mention on Jan. 5, 2024.
“Subsequently the body of abducted person was recovered dead,” the statement said.
The ODPP then directed the DCI to investigate the offense of murder and submit the inquiry file for review and further direction. As of Tuesday, the ODPP had not yet received the murder inquiry file.
“Upon receipt of the inquiry file for murder and any other charges disclosed by the evidence gathered, the ODPP shall give appropriate directions in accordance with the law,” the statement concluded.
The ODPP statement comes after claims on social media that the office failed to provide direction after an initial suspect was arrested.
“So, a SUSPECT in the abduction of SNIPER was arrested, but @ODPP_KE did NOT give DIRECTIONS on how to proceed,” a tweet by Dennis Itumbi said.
The ODPP statement clarifies it directed the DCI to investigate murder charges once Bernard’s body was discovered, but is still awaiting the inquiry file to provide further direction. The statement aims to refute claims the ODPP failed to act in the case.
