In a somber announcement on Saturday, Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome revealed the passing of Monica Kivuti, a magistrate at the Makadara Law Courts, who had been critically injured in a shocking act of violence within the courtroom. Magistrate Kivuti was shot on Thursday by a police officer after she denied a bail request for his wife, leading to a fatal encounter that concluded with the officer’s death in a subsequent exchange of fire with fellow police.
Chief Justice Koome, in her message posted on X, expressed profound sorrow over the loss, stating, “Monica Kivuti, Principal Magistrate, Makadara Law Courts, has lost the fight against the extensive injuries sustained during an open gun attack in court.” She further emphasized the judiciary’s collective mourning, urging for empathy and support during this exceedingly difficult period.
The incident, which not only resulted in Magistrate Kivuti’s death but also left three officers wounded, has cast a pall of grief and shock across the Kenyan legal community and the nation at large. The assailant’s wife, the focal point of the bail hearing that precipitated the tragedy, had been accused of a significant fraud amounting to approximately 2.9 million Kenyan shillings.
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This tragic event underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures within courtrooms and judicial buildings to prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring the safety of all judicial officers and attendees.
