Francis Kamau Karanja, a Nairobi businessman, appeared before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Irene Thamara, where he denied a charge of cyber harassment. The charge relates to a text message allegedly sent to Kibera Magistrate Margaret Murage on September 28, 2026. According to the charge sheet, the message accused the magistrate of taking sides in a case involving Gabriel Saka and warned her to be careful.
The alleged message read in part: "Greetings Hon. MM, I have no great bias in the case of Gabriel Saka. It seems you have taken sides, and we will not allow it. I will not stop at anything to ensure justice is done. Be warned....." The prosecution alleged that the message contained words likely to cause apprehension or fear of violence. This is contrary to Section 27(1)(a), as read with Section 27(2), of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
The prosecution opposed Karanja's release on bond, describing the matter as extraordinary since the alleged victim is a judicial officer. The prosecution stated that the alleged threats had caused the magistrate to fear for her safety, forcing her to avoid using her residence and vehicle. The prosecution urged the court to consider the Judiciary Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines, particularly provisions on victim protection.
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 reasons for his arrest. His lawyer told the court that Karanja was taken to Kilimani Police Station on Tuesday but was not presented in court that day.
Karanja 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.
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on Karanja's bail application on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 11am. The case has raised concerns about the safety of judicial officers and the need to protect them from threats and harassment. The outcome of the case is being closely watched.
The case highlights the challenges faced by judicial officers in Kenya and the need for adequate protection measures. The Judiciary has been working to enhance security measures for judicial officers, including providing them with secure communication channels and increasing security personnel around courts.
Key points
- A Nairobi businessman has been charged with cyber harassment for allegedly sending a threatening message to a magistrate.
- The alleged threats were made over a case involving Gabriel Saka, in which the magistrate was accused of taking sides.
- The court is expected to deliver its ruling on the businessman's bail application on October 9, 2026.
