Man charged over threatening text to magistrate
A Nairobi businessman allegedly warned the judicial officer to “watch her back” and claimed to know where she lived in a message over a case involving Gabriel Saka.
A man has been charged with cyber harassment after allegedly sending a threatening text message to a magistrate over the handling of a case involving Gabriel Saka.
Francis Kamau Karanja appeared before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Irene Thamara, where he denied the charge of cyber harassment contrary to Section 27(1)(a), as read with Section 27(2), of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
According to the charge sheet, Karanja allegedly sent the message on September 28, 2026, to a mobile phone number registered in the name of Magistrate Margaret Murage, accusing her of bias in the proceedings involving Saka.
The message allegedly warned the magistrate to be careful and claimed the sender knew where she lived, raising concerns over her personal safety.
“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,” the message read.
The Kiswahili phrases in the text included warnings for the magistrate to be careful in her work and a statement that the sender knew where she lived.
The prosecution alleged that the message contained words likely to cause apprehension or fear of violence to the judicial officer.
Opposing Karanja’s release on bond, the prosecution described the matter as extraordinary because the alleged victim is a judicial officer.
The prosecution told the court that the alleged threats had caused the magistrate to avoid using her residence and vehicle, leaving her living in fear.
Further, the prosecution urged the court to consider the Judiciary Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines, particularly provisions relating to victim protection, when determining whether Karanja should be released.
However, defence lawyer Muriithi Mbaabu asked the court to grant his client reasonable and lenient bail terms.
The defence argued that Karanja had been arrested and denied police bail without being informed of the reason for his arrest. He was taken to Kilimani Police Station on Tuesday but was not presented in court that day.
He was subsequently taken to Kibera Law Courts on Wednesday, where plea-taking was deferred after the prosecution sought to have the case transferred to Milimani.
The Kibera court directed that Karanja be presented before Milimani Court 1 for plea-taking, noting that proceeding with the matter at Kibera could expose the process to allegations of bias.
Karanja denied the charge at Milimani, with the court expected to deliver its ruling on his bail application tomorrow, Friday, October 9, 2026 at 11am.
