Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza's son and brother linked to the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper.

In court documents accessed by The Statesman, DCI requested to detain five suspects, Kenneth Mutua, Fredrick Muriuki, Frankline Kimathi, Timothy Kinoti (son) and Murangiri Kenneth (brother) for 21 days to allow detectives ample time to conduct thorough investigations. 

The request was filed at Kiambu Magistrates Court hours after the case was transferred from Meru to the Nairobi Metropolis. 

According to the DCI officer in charge of the investigations, the accused persons contacted the Meru blogger, claiming that he would meet with Mwangaza to seek a truce. 

Sniper, a known critic of Mwangaza's leadership, agreed to the request, hoping that they would work together. 

The DCI officer claimed that Sniper travelled from his home in Igembe South sub-county to Meru town where he met with the accused persons and subsequently went missing. 

"The deceased's wife tried to contact him in vain prompting her to report the matter at Maua Police Station," read part of the court document.

The DCI officer stated that the blogger's body was found at Mutonga River days later.  

Speaking to the press on Friday, Kawira Mwangaza's Chief of Staff, Nchamba Mbithi, stated that the bodyguard was taken into custody by police officers on Thursday evening.

He faulted the frequent arrests on Mwangaza's staff, claiming that they live in fear over the matter.

"I am here and we've seen all this propaganda on social media of my arrest. I state that if I'm needed to record a statement at the police station, I will do so willingly," he stated.