JSC sacks Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei

Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei addresses the Media at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, on Sunday.

By Nation Reporter

Judiciary's Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei has been sacked.

In a media briefing Friday, the Judicial Service Commission announced Shollei's sacking, citing misappropriation of funds, insubordination and incompetence.

"It is the unanimous resolution of the Commission that (Shollei) is hereby removed from office with immediate effect for incompetence, misbehaviour, violation of the prescribed code of conduct for judicial officers, violation of Chapter 6 and Article 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (and) insubordination," JSC chair and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga stated.

He said the Judiciary stood to lose Sh2.2 billion from financial impropriety on which the allegations against her were based.

The Chief Justice noted that Shollei had admitted to 33 allegations in which Sh1.7 billion taxpayer funds had been lost or were at risk.

He added that her responses to some allegations which would cost the Judiciary Sh361 million were "mixed, flippant and flimsy," while denying 38 other allegations with a Sh250 million cost implication.

"Shollei admitted 33 allegations and denied 38 others. Responses to the balance were equivocal, evasive and contradictory," he said.

87 ALLEGATIONS

The JSC chair said Mrs Shollei had been served with 87 allegations on financial and human resource mismanagement, irregularities and illegalities in procurement and misbehaviour.

He said Shollei had been given 21 days to respond and a further 18 days for oral submission at her request, adding that the long process has brought out "deliberate disinformation, distortions and sideshows."

According to the JSC, this was intended to distract focus from the grave allegations facing her.

EACC TO INVESTIGATE

The Chief Justice said JSC had invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption commission to do a thorough investigation "in light of the gravity of the issues" that informed Shollei's sacking.

Earlier on, there was a deadlock as Shollei declined to respond to allegations against her when she appeared before the commission, citing impartiality.