Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti has passed away. She succumbed to injuries from a shooting incident involving a Senior Police officer on Thursday.
A family source and her colleagues, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed her death to the Star on Friday.
Kivuti died at Nairobi Hospital, where she had been transferred after the incident. A source at the hospital reported she passed away at 11 pm.
"Her liver and intestine were ruptured by bullets," the source stated.
The family said her body has been moved to Lee Funeral Home.
Magistrate Kivuti had been shot in the leg and chest.
She was initially rushed to Metropolitan Hospital and later transferred to Nairobi Hospital, where she succumbed.
On Friday, an urgent appeal for blood donation was made to help save her life.
"Urgent appeal for blood donation. This is to kindly request blood donation for Hon Monica Kivuti," announced Omwanza Ombati, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) male representative at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Kivuti was shot on Thursday afternoon at Makadara Law Court after delivering a ruling in a case involving a policeman's wife.
The judiciary stated the magistrate had "canceled the bond for an accused person who had jumped bond and failed to offer satisfactory explanations for doing so."
"Immediately after this decision, someone shot the magistrate, injuring her on the hip,” read the judiciary's statement.
The shooter, identified as Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who was in charge of a police station in Londiani, Kisumu, pulled out a gun and shot the magistrate, injuring her.
Other officers in court responded quickly, with one officer shooting and killing Kipruto.
Three other officers were injured in the exchange, according to a police report.
Kipruto had traveled from his station in Londiani to attend a court case involving his ailing wife, Jennifer Wairimu, 48, who was accused of obtaining Sh2.9 million by false pretenses.
Wairimu had requested release on cash bail, but the magistrate denied the plea after she absconded court sessions citing illness.
A warrant for her arrest had been issued.
When she appeared on Thursday, June 13, her bail was canceled, and the magistrate ordered her remanded at Lang'ata Women’s Prison.
This angered Kipruto, who sneaked into the court through the magistrate's door and fired shots, hitting Kivuti in the chest and left hip.
His colleagues present fired back, killing him on the spot.
Following the shooting, court operations were suspended on Friday.
The Judiciary has commenced psycho-social counseling and support for judicial officers and staff at Makadara Law Courts.
Chief Registrar Winfridah Mokaya held a meeting with judicial officers at the Supreme Court Building on Friday, where they received counseling from a team of psychologists led by Dr. Rose Ngondi from Chiromo Hospital.
Mokaya described the event as traumatizing for the entire judiciary.
Chief Magistrate Tito Gesora and other magistrates requested improved security for judicial officers and better infrastructure at Makadara Law Courts.
Mokaya assured that the judiciary management is aware of the situation and will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of judicial officers and staff as they resume duty next week.
She emphasized the need for adequate funding to address the judiciary’s infrastructural and security challenges.
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