Nairobi, Kenya – Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti tragically succumbed to her injuries sustained in a courthouse shooting incident, announced Chief Justice Martha Koome. The fatal attack occurred after Kivuti refused bail for the wife of a police officer. In a statement, Chief Justice Koome expressed the Judiciary family’s solidarity during this challenging time, urging for empathy and sensitivity as they mourn the loss.
According to reports, immediately after Kivuti’s decision on the bail application, she was shot by a person at the courtroom. Responding police officers managed to neutralize the shooter, but not before Kivuti and three other officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire. Despite receiving treatment, Kivuti and the other wounded officers were declared to be in stable condition by Chief Justice Koome.
Chief Justice Koome emphasized the severity of the attack, stating that the perpetrator’s intention was clearly to kill the magistrate. In response to the incident, security measures at all courts across the country were ordered to be heightened. The shooter, a police officer, reportedly targeted Kivuti after she denied bail to his wife, who had confessed to fraudulently obtaining a substantial amount of money.
Details from a police report revealed that the attacker gained access to the courtroom through the magistrate’s entrance and fired shots that wounded Kivuti. Tragically, the assailant was fatally shot by a fellow officer who was present at the scene. Following the violent episode, Chief Justice Koome announced the temporary closure of the Makadara courts for security reasons, with all court proceedings to be conducted virtually until further notice.
Additionally, the Chief Justice instructed that cases requiring physical presence be relocated to the Milimani courts. The tragic loss of Magistrate Kivuti has sent shockwaves through the legal community, prompting calls for increased security measures at court premises to ensure the safety of all judicial officers and staff. The investigation into the incident continues as authorities seek to understand the circumstances leading to this senseless act of violence.