Shollei faces prosecution over loss of Sh2.2 billion at Judiciary

Sacked Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei faces possible prosecution over Sh2.2 billion lost from the judiciary as Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) raps up its investigations and implicates her in the saga.

JSC said Mrs Shollei admitted to 33 allegations in which Sh1.7 billion was lost and denied 38 allegations involving Sh250 million, while responses for allegations with a financial implication of Sh361 million was said to be not clear.

She has been in bitter fighting with the JSC for the last two months over alleged misconduct. She was suspended in August for two weeks to allow investigations.

Mrs Shollei moved to High Court seeking to stop the investigations and contest the suspension but later withdrew the suit and was reinstated, which was reported as part of the deal she reached with JSC.

But JSC yesterday said her withdraw of the suit was on her own volition and not as a result of any consent.

“The allegations raised against the CRJ are grave and very serious. The financial outlay in the entire corpus of allegations against Mrs Shollei stands at Ksh2.207 billion,” JSC said in a statement read by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

“In light of the gravity of the issues that inform Mrs Shollei’s removal, the JSC hereby invites the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to commence a root-and-branch investigation of all the matters in issue,” he added.

The anti-graft watchdog boss last week was quoted in the media confirming that it has started investigating allegations of corruption in the Judiciary following request from Chief Justice.

Dr Mutunga yesterday said JSC members unanimously agreed to remove her from office with immediate effect for incompetence, misbehavior, 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 served Mrs Shollei with September 9, 2013 with 87 allegations involving financial and human resource mismanagement, irregularities and illegalities in procurement, and misbehavior.

She responded and last week attended sessions with JSC, the last being on Friday.

Dr Mutunga said the investigations and the outcome will offer the Judiciary ‘an opportunity to launch the rebirth of the Judiciary’s transformation’.

Her sacking is a culmination of a full war pitting Mrs Shollei and the JSC that has lasted two months.

She has always insisted on public hearing of her interview with the JSC over the allegations but the later has insisted on private hearing.

JSC said it avoided any public statements on the matter in order to protect the process and to respect the decision made earlier by both parties not to try the matter in the media.

Dr Mutunga accused Mrs Shollei of engaging in side shows that led deliberate disinformation; distortions intended to distract focus from the grave allegations under investigation.

Last week Shollei told the Parliamentary Committee that the JSC members had drawn millions in allowances within period of last two years.

CJ said regarding these allegations of illegal allowances, JSC will engage all the key stakeholders, including Parliament and the public in order to be accountable.

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