A Kenyan magistrate who was shot by a senior police officer earlier this week has died, according to the country’s chief justice.

Justice Martha K Koome wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti had “lost the fight” against her “extensive injuries”.

Ms Kivuti was shot by a policeman at a court in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday after she cancelled his wife’s bail due to the woman’s absconding.

The policeman, identified as Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, was himself shot dead by other officers following the attack.

Three of these officers were hurt in the attack but are said to be in a stable condition.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform the nation that Hon. Monica Kivuti, Principal Magistrate, Makadara Law Courts has lost the fight against the extensive injuries sustained during an open gun attack in Court,” said Justice Koome in a statement on Saturday.

“The Judiciary family stands in solidarity during this deeply traumatic time and calls for sensitivity and compassion as we share in grief.”

According to The Star newspaper, which spoke to a source at Nairobi Hospital, Ms Kivuti died on Friday night after she was shot in the chest and leg.

The Makadara Law Courts are due to remain closed until Monday.

The national police service said in a statement on Thursday that Kipruto, who was in charge of a police station in Londiani in western Kenya, had been in the court for “unknown reasons” during a hearing in the case of his wife. She was accused of receiving money “under false pretences”.

Investigations into what happened are continuing.