Staff at former Judiciary registrar Gladys Shollei’s office locked out

KJSA officials led by chairman Sango Maewa address the Press Tuesday. [Photo: Mbugua Kibera/Standard

By Kurian Musa

Nairobi, Kenya: Staff members at the office of the former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Shollei were Tuesday denied access to their workstations.

About 18 officers were shocked to find the locks on the door to their offices replaced when they reported to work Tuesday morning.

Those locked out were spotted on the terraces of the Supreme Court building with their laptops and smart phones, some browsing, making phone calls and others reading newspapers.

The officers said they had not received any communication over the matter.

However, Mr Naim Bilal, the Director for Public Affairs and Communication at the Judiciary, termed the move to lock them out of their offices a temporary measure. Bilal said the action was to allow the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) carry out investigations and ensure employees do not interfere with the ongoing probe.

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The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) sacked Mrs Shollei over alleged impropriety but she has defended herself saying she was wrongfully dismissed.

Mrs Shollei told a press conference on Monday that the Judiciary has not lost any money during her tenure and accused the JSC of a witch-hunt.

Earlier, a section of Judiciary staff under the auspices of the Kenya Judicial Staff Association (KJSA) defended the action by JSC.

Led by KJSA chairman Sango Maewa, the officials accused Mrs Shollei of high-handedness and favoritism while in office. “Those who benefited from proximity to her are well known, while the list of victims that suffered under her high handedness is long,” Maewa claimed.

Earlier KJSA said those without access to their offices will be accommodated. “We are aware our colleagues are not at their places of work, but as a family we shall arrange to accommodate them in other offices so they can perform their duties,” said Maewa.

The association said their members willingly and voluntarily signed on for the Judiciary transformation because of the inspiration provided by the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and the Judicial Transformation Secretariat. “We stand by the CJ,” Maewa said. KJSA officials told Parliament not to interfere with the independence of the Judiciary, citing the doctrine of separation of powers.

The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs committee is investigating a petition urging the removal of six JSC commissioners on allegations of misconduct.  The committee chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga was directed to consider the petition and report to the House.