Businessman Francis Kamau Karanja to Be Charged at Milimani Over Alleged Threat to Kibera Magistrate

Francis Kamau Karanja will be arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after being accused of cyber harassment for sending a threatening text message to a magistrate at Kibera Law Courts.

The prosecution alleges that on September 28, 2026, Karanja used a mobile number to send a message to a number registered in the name of Magistrate Margaret Murage, referencing the handling of a case involving Gabriel Saka and containing language intended to cause apprehension or fear of violence. The charge sheet quotes the message as saying: “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 appeared before Kibera Law Courts magistrate Victor Wakumile on Wednesday, where the prosecution applied for the matter to be transferred to Milimani Law Courts for plea taking, arguing that the complainant is a magistrate stationed at Kibera.

Prosecutors said there was no suggestion that the Kibera magistrate would be biased but warned that keeping the case at the same court could raise questions about the fairness of the trial, particularly if the proceedings later went against Karanja. They cited the charge of cyber harassment under Section 27(1)(a) as read with Section 27(2) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.

Through his lawyer, Karanja denied the charge, asked the court to release him on lenient bond terms and argued that he had been in police custody since Monday, exceeding the period allowed for pre-charge detention, and therefore the matter should be withdrawn from Kibera Law Courts.

Magistrate Victor Wakumile ruled that prosecuting the matter at Kibera could lead to allegations of bias and agreed to transfer the file to Milimani Law Courts. He ordered Karanja to be remanded, to spend Wednesday night at Kilimani Police Station and to be presented before Milimani Court 1 on Thursday for plea taking.

The case proceeds on a charge of cyber harassment contrary to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, with the plea to be taken at Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, October 8, 2026.