What to Know about Fatal Shooting of Magistrate in Makadara Law Courts

A lady magistrate was shot fatally on Thursday during a judicial proceeding in Makadara Law Courts, the police said, in one of the deadliest days in law enforcement circles in recent years.

Around 1:45 PM, Presiding Magistrate for Makadara Law Courts Monica Kivuti went to deliver a ruling on a case involving a woman identified as Jeniffer Wairimu, who is accused of obtaining Ksh2.9 million by false pretence, Japhet Koome, the Inspector General of Police, said in a media statement Monday evening.

But little had the lady magistrate handed down a decision on that case when the suspect, later identified as Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, fired at her with a handgun inside Court Room Number 9, the police said. The court officers returned fire and struck Mr Kipchirchir, a senior cop with the rank of Chief Inspector. He was later pronounced dead in the front yard of the Magistrate’s court.

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As the police court orderlies approached the shooter, IG Koome told reporters, the officers were met with more gunfire, leading to a shootout that left two of them with injuries.

“Also injured during the incident were two Police Constables who are currently admitted together with the Magistrate at Metropolitan Hospital in Buruburu for treatment,” the IG said.

Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, the shooter, was the OCS of Londiani Police Station, and Jeniffer Wairimu is said to be his wife. Reportedly, he opened fire because he was displeased with the court’s decision to cancel a bond application he had made to get her released.

Chief Justice Martha Koome shut down Makadara Law Courts until June 17 after gunfire erupted for security enforcement.

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