Deputy CJ regrets Village Market incident

Written By:Milton Nyakundi/Margaret Kalekye,    Posted: Wed, Jan 04, 2012

Ms Nancy Baraza is sworn in as the new deputy Chief Justice at State House (FILE) Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza has broken her silence on the ugly incident at the village market saying terming it as unfortunate.  Ms Baraza in a statement clarified that she had no intention of high handedness, arrogance or ill will. She said  her actions were prompted by apprehension on her personal security based on repeated security incidents in the past few months and threats of violence directed at her.   The Supreme Court Vice President was responding to media reports that she harassed a security guard who did not recognize her when she sought to conduct a body search before allowing her into the shopping mall. "In the last few months a number of security incidents have occurred in and outside my office. As such, threats of violence have been directed at me and I have had to request increased security measures for my office as well as my own personal security," she said. "The unfortunate incident at the Village Market should be viewed in light of the genuine security apprehension on my part. I certainly had no intention of high handedness, arrogance or ill will," the deputy CJ added. She declined to make further comments saying it is inappropriate and pre-judicial to do so since the matter is being investigated by the police. "At this point, it would be inappropriate and prejudicial to make further comment on a matter that is under active police investigation. Let us allow for the police investigation in this matter to be complete without any interference whatsoever." The security guard who has allegedly quit her job launched a complaint with police over the behaviour of the Deputy CJ. She claimed she was intimidated with a pistol by Baraza when she sought to frisk her on New Year's Eve. Reacting to the incident, the Village market management maintains that the stringent security measures in place will apply to all persons visiting the mall to ensure their safety. In a statement the management said "in order to protect visitors and shoppers at the village market, extra security measures at various entry points as well as throughout the complex have been put in place and they include the use of metal detectors and search on all motor vehicles and persons entering the premises to ensure their safety". The management said it regretted the negative publicity that has ensued in relation to the deputy CJ.