Kenyan judge shot by senior police officer dies

Kenya’s chief justice has announced the death of a magistrate who was shot earlier this week by a senior police officer.

According to the BBC, Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti was shot by a police officer on Thursday at a court in Nairobi’s capital when she refused to grant his wife’s bail because she had run away.

Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, the policeman, was shot and killed by other cops after the attack.

According to Tuko, the magistrate had revoked Kipruto’s wife, Jennifer Waurimu’s, bond, who had been charged with obtaining KSh 2.9 million illegally for failing to appear in court.

However, on Saturday, President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Justice Martha K Koome wrote on X, that Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti had “lost the fight” against her “extensive injuries”.

She wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I inform the nation that Hon. Monica Kivuti, Principal Magistrate, Makadara Law Courts has lost the fight against the extensive injuries sustained during an open gun attack in Court.”

“The Judiciary family stands in solidarity during this deeply traumatic time and calls for sensitivity and compassion as we share in grief.”

According to a source at Nairobi Hospital speaking to The Star newspaper, Ms. Kivuti sustained gunshot wounds to her chest and leg.

Following the shooting, the Chief Justice on Thursday night announced the closure of the Makadara courts until Monday 17 June 2024, “for security purposes.”.

The judiciary also pledged to strengthen security measures to safeguard judicial staff and court attendees.