Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti has died from injuries sustained in a shooting incident involving a senior police officer.
Kivuti succumbed to her injuries on Friday at Nairobi Hospital, where she had been transferred after the shooting. Family sources and colleagues confirmed Kivuti’s death, stating she passed away at 11 pm.
A source at Nairobi Hospital revealed that her liver and intestines were ruptured by bullets. Her body was subsequently moved to Lee Funeral Home.
Read Also: Magistrate Shot and Injured by Police Officer During Court Session at Makadara Law Courts
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, June 13, when Kivuti was shot in the leg and chest at Makadara Law Court. Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto forcibly entered the courtroom and opened fire after a ruling involving his wife, Jenniffer Wairimu.
Wairimu, aged 48, faced charges of obtaining money by false pretence amounting to Ksh 2.9 million. She had requested to be released on cash bail, but the magistrate denied the request after Wairimu missed court sessions claiming sickness.
A warrant of arrest was issued against her, and when she appeared on Thursday, her bail terms were revoked, and the magistrate ordered that she be held at Lang’ata Women’s Prison. This action angered Kipruto, who entered the court through the magistrate’s door and fired shots at Kivuti, injuring her in the chest and left hip.
Kivuti was initially taken to Metropolitan Hospital and later transferred to Nairobi Hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
In response to the shooting, Kipruto was shot and killed by other officers in the courtroom. A court orderly and two other officers sustained gunshot wounds while trying to remove the magistrate and secure the courtroom.
On Friday, an urgent appeal for blood donation was made to help save Kivuti’s life. Omwanza Ombati, the male representative of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), requested blood donations for her.
“Urgent appeal for blood donation. This is to kindly request blood donation for Hon Monica Kivuti,” Law Society of Kenya (LSK) male representative at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Omwanza Ombati said.
The judiciary confirmed that Kivuti had cancelled the bond for an accused person who had jumped the bond and failed to offer satisfactory explanations.
The shooting led to the suspension of court operations at Makadara Law Courts on Friday. The judiciary began providing psycho-social counselling and support to judicial officers and staff stationed at Makadara Law Courts.
Switch News previously reported that due to space constraints, the court session was held in a tent outside the main buildings. After the magistrate gave her ruling, the officer went behind the tent and attempted to kill her.
“She has been shot and rushed to the hospital,” an officer who witnessed the incident told the Nation by phone. He mentioned that the shooter was immediately shot dead by his colleagues who were providing security at the court.
As part of this initiative, Chief Registrar Winfridah Mokaya held a meeting with judicial officers at the Supreme Court Building. During the meeting, the magistrates were taken through a counselling session by a team of psychologists from Chiromo Hospital led by Dr Rose Ngondi.
Led by Chief Magistrate Tito Gesora, the magistrates requested the judiciary to beef up security for judicial officers and improve infrastructure at Makadara Law Courts.
Mokaya acknowledged the infrastructural challenges and called for adequate funding to address these needs and ensure the security of judicial officers and staff as they resume duty next week.
