The Madaraka Law Courts reopened Monday after closure following the fatal shooting of Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti last month.

Chief Justice Martha Koome directed the Judiciary Police Unit to enforce strict search protocols, bar unauthorized persons from accessing court premises while armed with firearms.

According to security and safety measures, persons are not allowed to access court premises while armed, except for officers properly accredited to provide security at specified court stations, who shall be denied entry.

Kivuti was shot last month in the leg and chest at the Makadara Law Court after she made a ruling in a case involving a policeman's wife.

The judiciary said the magistrate had "cancelled the bond for an accused person who had jumped bond and had failed to offer satisfactory explanations for jumping bond."

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"Immediately this decision was pronounced, a person shot at the magistrate and injured her on the hip,” it said in a statement.

The officer, identified as Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who was in charge of a police station in Londiani in Kisumu, pulled out a gun and shot the magistrate, injuring her.

Other officers in court responded immediately, with one of them shooting the offending policeman and killing him.

In the process, three other officers were injured, a police report said.

Kipruto had traveled from his workstation in Londiani to attend a court case where his ailing wife, Jenniffer Wairimu, 48 years, was an accused person.

In the case, she is accused of obtaining money by pretense amounting to Kes 2.9 million.

The woman had pleaded to be released on cash bail, but the magistrate turned down the plea after she absconded court sessions over sickness.

A warrant of arrest was issued against her.

When she appeared on Thursday, June 13, her bail terms were canceled, and the magistrate ordered her remand at the Lang'ata Women’s Prisons.

This angered Kipruto, who sneaked into the court through the magistrate's door and fired shots toward Kivuti, injuring her on the chest and left hip.

Operations at the court were suspended Friday following the shooting.

The Judiciary said psycho-social counseling and support had been commenced for judicial officers and staff stationed at Makadara Law Courts.

Following the shooting, the Chief Justice announced the closure of Makadara Law Courts for security reinforcement.