Inspector General of police Japhet Koome has provided fresh details following an incident involving a police officer who fatally shot Makadara Law Courts Principal Magistrate Monicah Kivuti.
IG Koome in a statement on Thursday, June 8, 2024, revealed the identity of the National Police Service (NPS) officer who was also shot by fellow security officers at the court’s premises.
In the statement, Koome revealed that the incident occurred at around 1:45 pm at the Makadara Law Courts.
The police IG further identified the man in uniform behind the shooting as a senior police officer who was acting as an Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Londiani Police Station.
“The National Police Service wishes to appraise the public about the unfortunate and highly regrettable shooting incident that happened today June 13, 2024, at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi.
Today, at about 1345 hrs, a Presiding Magistrate for Makadara Law Courts (name withheld) was shot by a suspect later identified as No. 235435 Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, the OCS Londiani Police Station,” read part of the statement.
According to IG Koome, preliminary investigations indicate that the officer was in the Court for unknown reasons, during the hearing of a case in a live court session.
Also Read: Makadara Shooting: Judiciary Explains Events Before Gun Shots
An earlier OB report obtained by The Kenya Times detailed that the 55-year-old OCS shot at Magistrate Kivuti who had declined a request to release his wife, who was facing charges in the case, through cash bail.
According to the Police statement, Kipchirchir’s wife was facing charges of obtaining money by false pretense amounting to Ksh2.9 million.
Makadara Law Courts Shooting
“The OCS Jogoo and team rushed to the scene and established that it was alleged that a police officer identified as no. 235435 C.I Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto OCS Londiani aged 55 years whose wife one Jenniffer Wairimu 48 years was an accused in a case of obtaining money by false pretense amounting to Ksh.2.9 million,” the OB Report adds.
At the same time, Police stated that the OCS’s wife had pleaded to be released on cash bail which the court did not grant.
Frustrated by the court’s decision, the officer is reported to have accessed the court before firing shots which left the magistrate injured.
Also Read: Drama in Court as Senior Police Officer Shoots Magistrate
“He entered inside the court through the magistrate’s door and fired shots towards the magistrate injuring her on the chest and left hip,” Police added.
Following the shots fired by the OCS, the deceased was countered and fatally shot by a fellow officer who was also in the court.
Officers Injured & Gun Recovered
Police have revealed that a total number of two officers were injured in the process.
According to the OB report, the identified officers sustained injuries on different parts of the body and are recuperating at a hospital in Buruburu.
Further, Police have since confirmed that all the injured including Magistrate Kivuti are in stable condition after being rushed to hospital.
Security officials have already cordoned the Law Courts with the recovery of a Jericho pistol at the scene which is being processed by CSI team from Buruburu being confirmed.
On the other hand, Police said that the body of the deceased officer has been moved to city mortuary awaiting autopsy.
IG Koome on Shooting incident
IG Koome has announced that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are currently handling the matter with progress report set to follow.
“While the Service is yet to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting, all our specialized teams led by the DCI Homicide Unit are on the ground conducting in-depth investigation into the incident,” said Koome.
He also reassured the Judiciary of the safety of all their Staff as they discharge their noble duty, further reiterating NPS’s commitment to protect life and property of all Kenyans and foreign visitors alike.
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