Francis Kamau Karanja has pleaded not guilty to a cyber harassment charge over a message allegedly sent to a magistrate concerning the handling of a case involving Gabriel Saka.
Karanja appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, where the prosecution accused him of sending the message to Magistrate Margaret Murage’s mobile phone on September 28, 2026.
According to the charge sheet, the message questioned the magistrate’s handling of the Saka case and allegedly contained language likely to cause apprehension or fear of violence.
The prosecution alleges that Karanja sent the message at about 7pm while within Kenya. It listed Magistrate Murage and police officer Corporal Clement Muthoka among the witnesses it intends to call.
The State opposed Karanja’s release on bond, describing the case as exceptional because the alleged victim is a judicial officer.
Prosecutors told the court that the alleged message had caused Murage to fear for her safety, claiming she had avoided using her residence and vehicle as a result.
The State urged the court to consider the Judiciary Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines, particularly provisions relating to the protection of victims when determining whether an accused person should be released.
Karanja’s lawyer, Muriithi Mbaabu, however, asked the court to grant his client reasonable bail terms.
The defence argued that Karanja had been arrested and denied police bail without being informed of the reason for his arrest.
The case had initially been presented before the Kibera Law Courts, where plea taking was deferred after the prosecution sought to transfer the matter to Milimani.
The prosecution argued that keeping the case at Kibera could raise questions of impartiality because the alleged victim is a magistrate stationed at the court.
Kibera Magistrate Victor Wakumile subsequently directed that Karanja be presented before Milimani Court 1 for plea taking, while ruling that concerns over alleged violations of his rights could be addressed after he took plea.
Karanja was ordered to remain in custody pending his appearance at Milimani.
The court is expected to rule on his bail application on Friday at 11am.
