A Kenyan magistrate, who was shot by a senior police officer earlier this week, has died, according to the country’s chief justice.
Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti was shot by a policeman at a court in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday after she cancelled his wife’s bail because the woman had absconded, the BBC reports.
Following the attack, the policeman, identified as Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, was shot dead by other officers.
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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.”
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“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.
