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A senior Kenyan police officer was shot dead on Friday after opening fire at Makadara Principal Magistrate, Monica Kivuti, in court, over his wife, was denied bail.
The incident occurred shortly after the magistrate ruled in a case reportedly involving the officer’s wife.
The officer, identified as Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who headed a police station in Londiani, western Kenya, was reportedly angry by the court’s decision to cancel his wife’s bail after she had absconded.
In a fit of anger, Kipruto pulled out a gun and shot Magistrate Kivuti, injuring her.
The judiciary said in a statement, “Immediately this decision was pronounced, a person shot at the magistrate and injured her on the hip.”
Responding immediately, other officers present in the courtroom shot Kipruto, killing him on the spot.
In the ensuing chaos, three other officers were injured. All injured parties, including the magistrate, are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
The judiciary confirmed that Magistrate Kivuti had “cancelled the bond for an accused person who had jumped bond and failed to offer satisfactory explanations for jumping bond.”
Following this pronouncement, Kipruto opened fire, injuring Kivuti on the hip.
Initial reports indicated that Kipruto was married to the suspect whose bail was canceled.
The national police service stated that Kipruto was in the court for “unknown reasons” and that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting.
