KENYA: Authorities investigate claims that the deputy chief justice drew a gun on a security guard after refusing to be searched at an upmarket shopping mall

Record ID: 362176

  • Title: KENYA: Authorities investigate claims that the deputy chief justice drew a gun on a security guard after refusing to be searched at an upmarket shopping mall
  • Date: 6th January 2012
  • Summary: GENERAL VIEW OF THE VILLAGE MARKET MALL SIGN READING VILLAGE MARKET VARIOUS OF SECURITY PERSONNEL CHECKING VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE MALL PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE READING NEWSPAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HUMPHREY YOGA, NAIROBI RESIDENT SAYING: "I think it portrays a very wrong image to other public officers and for a public officer you should carry a
  • Embargoed: 21st January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya, Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAKMTTQBCMN2AU5ZZQ2YR98THJ
  • Story Text: Kenya is investigating an accusation by a security guard that the deputy chief justice threatened her with a pistol during a security check at an upmarket shopping mall on New Year's eve, police and the judiciary said on Thursday (January 05).
    Nancy Baraza, sworn into office in June, has a track record of pushing for legal reform. She and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga have promised to transform a judiciary widely seen as inefficient and corrupt.
    Analysts said the incident was a test of the judicial reforms and authorities should avoid damaging public confidence in the process.
    Security guard Rebecca Morara told local media Baraza refused to be screened at the entrance to the Village Market shopping mall in Nairobi. When asked to have her bag checked, Morara said Baraza resisted and threatened her with a pistol.
    There is heightened security in Kenya after threats by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants in Somalia. Hand-held metal detectors are used in places where people gather, including shopping malls.
    The rebels have threatened attacks in Kenya after the east African country sent troops into Somalia, blaming the rebels for cross-border kidnappings and attacks.
    Baraza said she had requested increased security measures after a number of incidents in and outside her office, and that threats of violence had been directed at her.
    "I think it portrays a very wrong image to other public officers and for a public officer you should carry a high level of integrity as pertains to the office," said Humphrey Yoga, a Nairobi resident.
    "She should step aside to give the investigators ample time to do their job," said Rueben Mwangi, another Nairobi resident.
    One Kenyan said Baraza was too senior to be frisked at a mall in the first place.
    "She should be forgiven for what she did because she is a very senior government official. You know in the separation of powers at the judiciary, she is just like a vice president in the executive and she is a well known figure. I do not think that girl should have done whatever she was trying to do," said Collins Ouma.
    The Chief Justice, Mutunga said he was looking into the incident, saying "nobody or institution is above the law".
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