“Chunga kazi yako”: Businessman in court over threat to magistrate
Francis Kamau Karanja will spend the night in the cold at Kilimani Police Station before his arraignment tomorrow to answer a cyber-harassment charge arising from an alleged threat against a magistrate.
A businessman accused of sending a chilling text warning a Kibera magistrate to “watch your work” and “watch yourself” will be charged tomorrow, Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.
Francis Kamau Karanja will spend the night in the cold at Kilimani Police Station before his arraignment tomorrow to answer a cyber-harassment charge arising from an alleged threat against a magistrate.
Karanja was today, Wednesday. October 7, 2026 presented before Kibera Law Courts Magistrate Victor Wakumile after prosecutors sought to have the case transferred from Kibera, where the complainant works, to Milimani.
The prosecution argued that prosecuting the case at Kibera could create an impression of bias, even if there was no actual intention to influence the trial.
The alleged threat was contained in a text message Karanja is accused of sending to the magistrate on September 28, 2026, over proceedings involving Gabriel Saka.
According to the charge sheet, the message was intended to cause fear and intimidate the judicial officer.
It read:
“Greetings Hon. MM, I have not the great bias in the case of Gabriel Saka. It seems you have taken side and we will not allow it. I will not stop at anything to ensure justice is done. Be warned. Chunga kazi yako. Na ujichunge sana, Tunajua kwako.”
Karanja denied the charge and asked the court to release him on lenient bond terms.
Through his lawyer, he also sought his release on the grounds that he had been arrested on Monday and had already spent more time in police custody than allowed before being charged.
But the prosecution pushed for the matter to be handled at Milimani, citing the complainant’s position as a magistrate at Kibera Law Courts.
The prosecution told the court that although there was no suggestion that the Kibera court was biased, proceeding with the case there could expose the trial to allegations of unfairness if the outcome went against Karanja.
Magistrate Wakumile agreed and ordered the file withdrawn from Kibera and presented before the Milimani Chief Magistrate for plea taking.
“It is my considered view that prosecuting the matter at Kibera Law Court will lead to allegations of bias. The issues of alleged violations of the accused person’s rights can be addressed once the accused takes plea,” Wakumile ruled.
Karanja was ordered to remain in custody at Kilimani Police Station overnight before being presented at Milimani Law Courts tomorrow.
