Othaya Principal Magistrate gets death threats

Police in Othaya, Nyeri County, are investigating death threats sent to a magistrate by anonymous persons.

Othaya Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba received a letter with the death threats at around 9.30am on Friday at his work station.

Sources at Othaya Police Station told The Standard that the letter was delivered through the post office.

“The letter is purported to have been written on January 9. The authors have given Mr Nyakweba 21 days to leave Othaya failure to which he will be killed,” the source said.

“It does not matter whether you have state security or not, we know where you stay, but before we get you please leave,” the letter reads in part.

Not cowed

The author of the anonymous letter says they already have the machinery to execute their plans in place if the magistrate does not leave the town.

The magistrate, however, says he is not cowed by the threat and will continue performing his duties as provided for by the Constitution.

"I have since reported the matter and recorded a statement with the police in order establish the identity of the author,” Nyakweba said.

Nyakweba attributed the threats to his work as a magistrate, and said some criminals may not be happy with the way he was dealing with some cases.

He has been working at Othaya law court since April 15, 2014.