Kenyan police probe deputy chief justice gun threat

NAIROBI, (Reuters) – 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 today.
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.
“Investigations are being carried out into the claims by the  security guard,” Anthony Kibuchi, the Nairobi provincial police  chief, said. Police were evaluating closed circuit television  footage and questioning witnesses.
Baraza issued a statement saying she had received threats  since her appointment and was concerned for her safety. She did  not discuss the incident in detail, citing the police  investigation.
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.
“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,” Baraza said in her statement.
Political commentator Kwamchetsi Makokha said: “This  incident has considerably punctured the momentum of reform and  the moral standing. Unless transparent measures are taken to get  to the bottom of this matter, public confidence in the judiciary  will be heavily dented.”
Mutunga said: “This matter has rightly generated  considerable public interest and should be dealt with  conclusively and satisfactorily. I am in the process of getting  full facts surrounding the incident.
“Nobody or institution is above the law … The judiciary is  instituting its own internal investigation,” said Mutunga, who  said at his swearing-in that he expected to end oppression and  exploitation and promote transparency and freedom.