Someone threatened to kill me. What does the law say?
Penal Code · sources read 5 Oct 2026
Threatening to kill anyone without lawful excuse is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in jail. It does not matter whether the threat is spoken or written, or passed on through someone else.
- Where
- Any police station (emergency: 999, 112 or 911); protection orders from the court
Steps
- Report the threat to the police. In an emergency, call 999, 112 or 911.
- If the person threatening you is in a domestic relationship with you, you can also apply to court for a protection order against them.
Watch out
- The threat can be spoken, written, or sent indirectly, for example through another person.
- The offence covers threats made without lawful excuse.
- Under the domestic violence law, intimidation includes conveying a threat that makes you fear imminent harm.
Who this covers
- The rule protects any person who is threatened with death, and applies to anyone who makes the threat or causes it to reach them.
Official sources (3)
- Penal Code (Cap. 63) new.kenyalaw.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Kenya Police Service home page kenyapolice.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Protection Against Domestic Violence Act (Cap. 151, No. 2 of 2015), version of 31 December 2022 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026