In a shocking and unprecedented turn of events, a violent confrontation erupted inside a Kenyan courtroom, leaving a senior police officer dead and a magistrate injured.
The incident unfolded at the Makadara Courts in Nairobi, where Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who was reportedly angered by a court decision involving his wife, opened fire on Magistrate Monica Kivuti shortly after she had made a ruling.
According to reports, after Magistrate Kivuti cancelled the bail of a suspect who had reportedly absconded, Kipruto, who was in charge of a station in Londiani western Kenya, allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the magistrate, injuring her on the hip.
The shocking act of violence inside the courthouse prompted an immediate response from other officers present. One of them engaged Kiproto in a shoot-out, ultimately killing the rogue police officer.
In the process, three other officers were also injured, underscoring the chaotic and dangerous nature of the incident.
Magistrate Kivuti and the injured officers were promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention.
The judiciary has expressed its shock and dismay at the unfolding events, with the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfridah Mokaya, assuring judicial staff and court users of their safety and security. The national police service has also launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the tragic shooting.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan public, as the police force, which is often accused of being involved in extrajudicial killings, has now been embroiled in a shocking act of violence within the very halls of justice.
The judiciary has vowed to enhance security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
