Uproar As Ruto Appoints Former Deputy CJ Nancy Baraza to Head Team on Gender-based violence

A number of Kenyans have taken to their social media pages to question the prudence of appointing former deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza to head a technical team charged with assessing, reviewing and recommending measures that will strengthen policy and end gender-based violence in Kenya.

Nancy Baraza resigned following clamour by the Judicial Service Commission. Photo | NMG

Ms Nancy Baraza notoriously rose to fame not for her sterling performance as deputy Chief Justice but because she assaulted a security guard at Sarit Center, in Westlands, Nairobi. Though the incident was captured on CCTV the pompous and arrogant Barasa went on to tell the media that she was only straightening the collar of the guard’s uniform.

Reporting on the incident which took place on New year’s Eve 2012 the Standard wrote: “Kenya’s deputy chief justice is facing a police investigation following claims that she threatened to shoot a security guard after refusing to be frisked.

The female guard said Nancy Baraza ignored the security desk at the entrance to an upmarket shopping mall in Nairobi and threatened to shoot her.

Security has been intensified in Kenya following its incursion into Somalia in October and attacks by Islamists.

Ms Baraza has declined to comment on the incident pending the inquiry”.

Voices opposed to her appointment claim that although she is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi she is not known for any academic treaties on the subject of gender-based violence nor has she made any efforts to be identified with the movement in the broader society. In any case the former deputy CJ lost her job for gross misconduct and Kenyans are of the opinion that she does not warrant appointment as a public officer.

Rebecca Kerubo, a mother of three was slapped by the former deputy CJ while executing her security role at the Sarit Center shopping mall.

Baraza’s appointment is therefore seen as largely politically instigated and adds no value to the serious war on gender-based violence in Kenya.

Meanwhile, Kenyans have also raised concern on the list of shortlisted candidates for the positions of Principal Secretary by the Public Service Commission. Without trying to cover up intention the list is replete with names of political cronies of both UDA and ODM Party bigwigs.

The Ruto-Raila amalgam calling itself a broad based government has promised to give “experts” an opportunity to run affairs of the government. The position of Principal Secretary is critical as essentially it entails the accounting officer in the Ministry. It’s therefore not amusing that names such as Wilson Sossion (disgraced former KNUT Secretary General) and blogger Gabriel Oguda appear in the list.

Here are some of the reactions: