Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has urged the Judiciary, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and National Police Service (NPS) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti on court premises.
In a statement on Monday, June 17th, Havi claimed that the wife of the police officer who shot the magistrate was reportedly battling cancer and had been brought to court on life support.
The former LSK president called on the JSC, DPP, and NPS to investigate the circumstances that allegedly led to the magistrate revoking the bond for the officer's wife.
"An inquiry must be undertaken by the JSC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the National Police Service to establish the circumstances under which the Honourable Magistrate is alleged to have cancelled the bond of an accused person we understand was undergoing palliative care for cancer, and is said to have been brought to Court on life support equipment.
"If that is the case, that was an inconsiderate, inhumane, and injudicious act by the Honourable Magistrate," Havi claimed.
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On June 13, Kivuti was shot by a police officer at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi reportedly after she revoked the bond of the officer's wife for skipping bail and failing to justify her absence.
The magistrate was taken to Metropolitan Hospital in Buruburu for treatment, where she tragically passed away from her injuries on Saturday, June 15.
Two police constables were also injured in the incident and received treatment at Metropolitan Hospital in Buruburu, according to the National Police Service (NPS).
On Monday, June 17, President William Ruto instructed the National Police Service to prioritize the safety of judicial officers at all times, condemning the incident as unacceptable.
“Under no circumstances should they (police) abandon this essential obligation or ever turn from their duty of protection and become threats to the safety and security of the people. What happened to Hon. Kivuti is unacceptable; it should never happen again,” President Ruto remarked.