Deputy CJ speaks out on gun drama with guard

By Cyrus Ombati

Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza says a gun drama with a security guard at Village Market on Saturday was unfortunate.

She pointed to fears over her security, saying the confrontation should be viewed in that light.

"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 genuine security apprehension on my part. I certainly had no intention of high-handedness, arrogance or ill-will," the deputy CJ added. Ms Baraza did not explain in her statement the nature of the threats that had occurred inside and outside her office.

Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza.

The guard she is accused of having threatened said she is contemplating to resign from her job because of the manner in which Ms Baraza treated her.

"I feel my life is in danger because that is a whole deputy CJ who threatened me. I am contemplating to leave this job anytime. It was humiliating," Rebecca Morara told The Standard.

When she was informed Ms Baraza had apologised for the incident, she asked to know if she had admitted that she showed her a gun.

"If she is not admitting she directed a pistol at me then let the case go to court. I have a customer who even took a picture of the whole episode," she said.

Chief Firearms Officer

Ms Morara said she had never seen the deputy CJ and even though she knew her, she would not have let her pass the security desk unchecked.

She was Wednesday at her place of work as usual screening all female customers entering the Village Market Mall. Ms Morara took her time to talk to journalists to explain how the drama started and occasionally went to screen female customers who were entering the mall.

Ms Baraza said police should be left to complete investigations into the matter.

"At this point, it would be inappropriate and prejudicial to make further comment on a matter that is under police investigation. Let us allow for the investigation to be complete without any interference whatsoever," said Ms Baraza.

She made the remarks as Nairobi Area Provincial CID boss Peter Muinde took over the case.

The officer and his team sought to know if the deputy CJ is a licensed gun holder from the Chief Firearms Officer. Reports said detectives had established Ms Baraza does not own a gun and she is not licensed to carry one.

Mr Muinde later visited the scene of the incident and Gigiri Police Station where it was reported as part of the investigations.

Stood her ground

Ms Morara, the security guard, lodged a complaint with the police alleging Ms Baraza threatened her when she sought to conduct a body search before allowing her into the shopping mall on the Eve of the New Year. The deputy CJ had gone to a pharmacy inside Nakumatt Village Market on Saturday evening to purchase some drugs when the exchange of words occurred.

Witnesses alleged she walked past a female security officer without being screened and the guard followed and informed her that she had to be screened.

The deputy CJ allegedly declined and proceeded to the counter to purchase some drugs.

When she left the pharmacy, she confronted the guard and asked her why she treated her in a disrespectful manner. The guard, according to witnesses, stood her ground saying she was supposed to search her even if she was deputy CJ.

Ms Morara later told police she saw the deputy CJ point "something like a pistol" at her during the confrontation.