JSC interfered with my work, Shollei tells MPs

The former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Mrs Gladys Shollei, told a House committee yesterday that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC)had undue influence over and interference with her work.

Appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to findings of an audit report by the Office of the Auditor General, Mrs Shollei said JSC was briefed and consequently approved all undertakings that have been questioned in the report.

“As the accounting officer of the Judiciary, I worked well with my seniors. I informed them of each and every undertaking of the Judiciary and even when I suggested that some decisions be made, they had the final word.

“There was undue influence on my operations as the chief registrar and accounting officer of the Judiciary,” she said.

Shollei, who was last year dismissed over alleged misappropriation of Sh2.2 billion, maintained she was innocent, as the audit report did not disclose any form of corruption or fraud.

Committee Chair Ababu Namwamba questioned if she ever took action following interference of operations in her office.

several letters

Shollei informed the committee that she wrote several letters to Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and later to the then Treasury Cabinet secretary informing them that there were issues that needed to be addressed.

A similar letter, she said, was written to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Issues to do with payment of allowances to Judiciary staff running to millions of shillings were raised, with Namwamba seeking clarification on why officers received allowances even when there was no quorum to qualify the same.

Shollei said she was not aware that such meetings were ongoing, adding that the JSC secretariat approved payments for allowances.

“They were having sub-committee meetings of four people or so but I did not know that there were one or two people meeting and actually earning allowances. This was uncovered by internal auditors,” she explained.

The House team also demanded to know the procedure undertaken by the Judiciary in leasing Elgon Place building, Rahimtulla Towers and Mayfair Centre.

“We want to know why so much money was paid in acquiring such premises yet they have not been occupied up to date. It appears that the Judiciary was on a leasing spree,” Namwamba said.