Kerubo testifies at Baraza tribunal

Rebecca Kerubo who accuses suspended deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza of assaulting her is expected to appear before a tribunal July 3, 2012. FILE

The security guard, who has accused suspended deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza of assaulting her, has appeared before a tribunal despite complaints by her lawyer of exclusion from the proceedings.

Ms Rebecca Kerubo’s lawyer, Mr Irungu Kangata, told journalists his colleague, Mr George Maosa, was not allowed in the hearing when it started on Monday.

On Tuesday, Mr Kangata also camped outside the hall where the tribunal sat, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre waiting for a chance to file a fresh application to represent Ms Kerubo.

However, only the security guard was allowed at the tribunal where she was to appear as its first witness.

“We are disappointed that we were not given a chance to represent our client. Even in the Judicial Service Commission we were allowed to appear for hearings,” Mr Kangata said.

The lawyer said the Constitution gives everybody a right to legal representation.

On Tuesday, the tribunal visited the Village Market in Nairobi, the scene of the alleged assault on New Year’s Eve.

The tribunal members, accompanied by Ms Baraza, inspected the entrance of Village Market where Ms Kerubo was deployed at the time of the alleged assault, the Chemist where the judge bought medicine, the security office and the car park.

The tribunal members sought to know whether the Closed Circuit Television at the entrance was working at the time of alleged assault. The team was taken round the shopping mall by its security guards and other staff as Ms Kerubo watched.

The tribunal hearing started on Monday and chairman Augustino Ramadhani said Ms Baraza opted to have it in private.

On Tuesday morning, she attended the tribunal’s closed door session at KICC accompanied by her lawyers, Mr Kioko Kilukumi and Ms Judith Guserwa, before the visit to the Village Market.

She however turned up for less than 20 minutes for the afternoon session when Ms Kerubo testified.