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Makadara magistrate Monica Kivuti is dead

Kivuti was shot by a senior police officer who was killed during the tragedy.

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by Bosco Marita

News15 June 2024 - 06:57
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In Summary


  • Kivuti died at the Nairobi Hospital where she was transferred for specialised care after the shooting incident.
  • A family source and her colleagues who did not wish to be quoted by the media confirmed to the Star that Kivuti died Friday.
Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti

Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti is dead, Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced.

She succumbed to injuries sustained from a shooting incident involving a Senior Police officer on Thursday.

"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,"  CJ Koome said.

Kivuti died at the Nairobi Hospital where she was transferred for specialised care after the shooting incident.

A family source and her colleagues who did not wish to be quoted by the media confirmed to the Star that Kivuti died Friday.

"The Judiciary family stands in solidarity during this deeply traumatic time and calls for sensitivity and compassion as we share in grief.  May Hon. Kivuti’s soul rest in eternal peace," CJ Koome added.

A source at Nairobi Hospital said she passed on at 11 pm.

"Her liver and intestine were raptured by bullets," the source said.

Her family said the body was moved to Lee Funeral Home.

Magistrate Kivuti had been shot and injured in the leg and chest.

She was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital and later transferred to Nairobi Hospital where she succumbed.

On Friday, an urgent blood appeal was made to help save her life.

"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.

Kivuti was shot on Thursday afternoon at the Makadara Law Court after she made a ruling in a case involving a policeman's wife.

The judiciary said the magistrate had "cancelled 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,” it said in a statement.

The officer, identified as Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who was in charge of a police station in Londiani in Kisumu,  pulled out a gun and shot the magistrate, injuring her.

Other officers in court responded immediately, with one of them shooting the offending policeman and killing him.

In the process, three other officers were injured, a police report said.

Kipruto had travelled from his workstation in Londiani to attend a court case where his ailing wife Jenniffer Wairimu, 48 years was an accused person.

In the case, she is accused of obtaining money by false pretence amounting to Sh2.9 million.

The woman had pleaded to be released on cash bail but the magistrate turned down the plea.

This is after she absconded court sessions over sickness.

A warrant of arrest was issued against her.

When she appeared on Thursday, June 13, her bail terms were cancelled and the magistrate ordered she be remanded at the Lang'ata Women’s prisons.

This angered Kipruto who sneaked into the court through the magistrate's door and fired shots towards Kivuti injuring her on the chest and left hip.

His colleagues who were present fired at him and killed him on the spot.

Operations at the court were Friday suspended following the shooting.

The Judiciary said it had commenced psycho-social counselling and support to judicial officers and staff stationed at Makadara Law Courts.

As part of the initiative, Chief Registrar Winfridah Mokaya held a meeting with judicial officers attached to the court at the Supreme Court Building on Friday.

During the meeting, the Magistrates were taken through a counselling session by a team of psychologists from Chiromo Hospital led by Dr Rose Ngondi.

Mokaya said the event where Principal Magistrate Monicah Kivuti was shot by an assailant is traumatising for the entire judiciary.

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 said the judiciary management is cognizant of the situation at the court and will do everything possible to ensure the security of judicial officers and staff as they resume duty next week.

She also noted that the security situation in Makadara is exacerbated by the judiciary’s infrastructural challenges, and called for adequate funding to address the judiciary’s infrastructural needs as well as security for judicial officers.

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