In a shocking incident at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya, a senior police officer was shot and killed after he opened fire on a magistrate, severely injuring her and another member of the public. The shooting occurred on Thursday, shortly after the magistrate, Monica Kivuti, delivered a ruling in a case involving the officer’s wife.
According to Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei, the officer, an Officer Commanding Station in Kisumu, had traveled to Nairobi to attend the court proceedings where his wife was a suspect. The case involved fraud charges, and the accused had repeatedly failed to appear in court, citing cancer as the reason for her absence.
Magistrate Kivuti, however, canceled the accused’s bond for skipping court sessions and ordered her to be remanded until June 27. This decision reportedly prompted the accused to call her husband, who arrived at the scene armed.
The court was being held in a tent outside the main precincts when the incident occurred. Soon after the magistrate’s ruling, the officer went behind the tent and shot her. Other officers present at the scene responded by shooting the officer and fatally wounding him.
Both Magistrate Kivuti and the other injured victim were rushed to the hospital in serious condition following the 2 pm incident. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCIO) detectives have since arrived at the Makadara Law Courts, cordoning off the area as they begin their investigations.
Court activities scheduled for the day have been suspended in the wake of the tragic event.
The shocking incident has raised concerns about the safety of judicial officers and the public within court premises. It also highlights the need for enhanced security measures and stricter protocols to prevent such violent acts from occurring in the future.
As the nation comes to terms with this distressing event, authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting and ensure that justice is served for all those affected by this senseless act of violence.
