Francis Kamau Karanja charged with threatening Kenyan magistrate

Francis Kamau Karanja has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in Kenya facing cyber harassment charges for allegedly sending threatening messages to a magistrate. The prosecution alleges the messages were sent on September 28, 2026, targeting judicial officer Margaret Muragi regarding a case she was handling involving Gabriel Zaka.

The prosecution stated that the threats, which included accusations of bias, have severely impacted the magistrate's personal security. It was reported that Muragi has been forced to abandon her residence and vehicle due to fears for her safety after the accused allegedly tracked down her home.

Karanja denied the charges during his appearance before Senior Principal Magistrate Irene Thamara. The court is expected to rule on his bail application, with the prosecution citing Judiciary Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines to argue for heightened protection measures for the judicial officer.