Leaders vow to disband JSC over Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei saga

By FRED KIBOR

KENYA: Over 40 legislators from across the political divide have vowed to disband the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for “wrongfully” dismissing Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei.

The leaders said the registrar had raised pertinent and damning information about some of the commission’s members that needed to be probed before any action could be taken.

They said the candid revelations by Shollei that some members of JSC were not ready for reforms in the Judiciary was the reason she was bundled out of office.

The leaders, who were speaking at Kapchebau Secondary School in Marakwet East, Elgeyo/Marakwet County, during a homecoming ceremony for area MP David Kangogo, said they would today in Parliament, move to dissolve the JSC.

They included woman representatives Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi), Zipporah Kering (Nandi), Grace Kiptui (Baringo) and Susan Chebett (Elgeyo/Marakwet) and MPs Kanini Kega (Kieni West), Kimani Ichangwah (Kikuyu ), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Silas Tiren (Moiben), Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Julius Melly (Tinderet), Stephen Bitok (Mosop) James Murgor (Keiyo North) Jackson Kipatanui (Keiyo South), William Kisang (Marakwet West), Jonah Ngeno (Emurua Dikir), and ODM’s Abbas Ahmed (Ijara).

Others were National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Nandi Senator Stephen Sang, and Elgeyo/Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, among others.

Shebesh said the society had traditionally discriminated against strong-willed women.

“The sacking of Shollei is another case where women are subjugated because they demonstrated excellence in their assignments,” said the Nairobi woman representative.

Ms Kering on the other hand said since Shollei was appointed as chief registrar, some JSC members had persistently intimidated her.

Fair hearing

“Why was she not given fair hearing yet she had raised some serious allegations about some members?” she posed.

Ms Kiptui blamed succession politics in the Judiciary for Shollei’s subjective sacking and said the matter should be investigated.

“Some JSC members with tainted records feared that she would be the next chief justice and their past scam will be unearthed, and consequently plotted for her dismissal,” she said.

Kiptanui said the Justice and Legal Affairs House team was dealing with several petitions and will demand for a disbandment of the commission when it tables the report.

“We approved the JSC team to reform the Judiciary but apparently they are no longer for the posts they hold and we want to disband it and bring in people of integrity,” said Kiptanui.

The legislators absolved Shollei from accusations levelled against her by the JSC, saying she was a whistleblower of the scam allegedly perpetrated by some members in the Judiciary.

“Shollei is acknowledged for a raft of reforms in the Judiciary. But instead of being supported, JSC bashes her,” said Emurua Dikirr MP Ngeno Kipyegon.