A ranked Kenyan Police officer was reportedly killed after shooting at a magistrate in court in Nairobi.
The Chief Inspector opened fire on Makadara Principal Magistrate, Monica Kivuti just after she rendered a decision in a case involving his wife.
The officer is alleged to have been upset by the court’s decision to cancel her bail after she fled.
The officer, Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who is in command of a police station in Londiani, western Kenya, then took out a revolver and shot the magistrate, wounding her.
Other cops in court responded quickly, with one of them shooting and killing the offending officer.
Three other officers were hurt as a result of the incident, according to police reports.
The magistrate and the injured officers are being treated at the hospital.
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”.
“Immediately this decision was pronounced, a person shot at the magistrate and injured her on the hip,” it said in a statement.
It cited initial reports indicating “that the shooter is a police officer who is married to the suspect”.
The national police service stated that the officer appeared in court for “unknown reasons”.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting, it stated.
The judiciary has said it will enhance security measures and has assured judicial staff and other court users of their safety and security.
“As the judiciary family, we wish our colleague a quick recovery. We also send our condolences to the family of the officer who lost his life in this unfortunate incident,” said chief registrar of the judiciary Winfridah Mokaya.