By Peter Ochieng
A magistrate who was shot by a police officer during an active court session at the Makadara Law Courts, in Nairobi on Thursday is dead.
Reports indicate that Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti succumbed to gunshot wounds on Friday night, while undergoing treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.
Chief Justice Martha Koome confirmed her demise.
I wish to confirm to 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.”
During an active court session on Thursday, Kivuti was shot on the hip and chest by Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, identified as the Officer Commanding Police Station (OCS) Londiani, in Kisumu County.
The officer died on the spot, after being neutralized by his colleagues who were in court. Other police officers were injured, during the ‘fierce exchange of fire.’
Drama unfolded after the Magistrate canceled bail terms for the suspect, who happened to be the officer’s wife.
The Judiciary in a statement released on Thursday shortly after the incident, said the suspect had failed to show up in court on several occasions without explanation, forcing the Magistrate to cancel the bond.
“The magistrate had canceled the bond for an accused person who had jumped bond and had failed to offer satisfactory explanations for jumping bond. Immediately this decision was pronounced, a person shot at the magistrate and injured her on the hip.”
The suspect was reported to be ailing, the reason for her jumping bond. She has been accused of obtaining money by false pretense amounting to Sh2.9 million. She had pleaded to be released on cash bail but the magistrate turned down the plea, after she absconded court sessions severally over sickness.
When she appeared in court on Thursday, her bail terms were canceled and the magistrate ordered she be remanded at the Lang’ata Women’s prisons. The move angered her husband who fired shots towards Kivuti injuring her on the chest and left hip.