Shollei: Cherish moments spent with family

Former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Shollei recounts moments of the year 2013:

2013 was a very eventful year. As a country we had peaceful elections, an exciting presidential election petition and a public inauguration ceremony never before witnessed in the Kenyan history.

As a professional I will remember that it is the year when I made headlines not for the right reasons unfortunately. However I was able to put out across my message and many Kenyans know that it was all a premeditated plan to remove me from office.

My most memorable disappointment was to discover that the Chief Justice, Dr Willy Mutunga was not the leader I thought he was. I had a very good impression that under his leadership we would be able to transform the Judiciary.

However, I was shocked to discover that he had gotten himself entangled to a War Council to undermine and remove me as a key member of his management team together with other staff who had worked selflessly to rebuild the judiciary.

I was very disappointed that he failed to follow the principles enshrined in the Constitution yet he swore to be its defender and was one of the first agitators of constitutionalism in the nineties.

Regarding my time in the Judiciary, I am proud that we hired new staff who are young, dynamic and competent thereby undertaking devolution of financial management and administration.  I am also proud that we managed to complete construction of 13 courts the highest number ever achieved in one year.

Furthermore we set up a modern Court of appeal fully loaded with audio visual equipment that can allow anyone from any part of the world to follow the proceedings.

The Judiciary through the automated service desk won the most innovative use of technology in the public service under the CIO 100 awards. Overall, the Judiciary scooped second position in the combined public and private sector for innovative use of technology.

Additionally, the case management system was selected to be among the top 5 awards for the prestigious African Association for Public Administration & Management.

The irony is that these awards have not been published in the Inside Judiciary Magazine since they are associated with me.

My lesson this year is that God and family are the most important things in life.

When I was fired from the judiciary I was not shaken because I was still thanking God for sparing my children who left Westgate 20 minutes before the attack.

That notwithstanding, as Kenyans we must learn to interrogate the track record of our leaders.

 I hope that Dr Mutunga, Kenya’s Chief Justice can do self-reflections and rededicate himself to justice with resolve to build and not destroy the institution and the lives of young Kenyans.

 Moving forward, Kenyans should be peaceful and engage in constructive dialogue and development. The clashes in Tana River, Samburu and Moyale areas should not be occurring at this day and time.

If we as citizens focus on development priorities, Kenya can achieve greatness. I urge Kenyans to remain vigilant and seek more accountability from the leaders we entrusted our institutions.

 My message to Kenyans as we usher in 2014 is that each one of us must cherish every moment especially time with your family and loved ones.  That is the greatest gift from God.