Former registrar of Judiciary Gladys Boss Shollei before the Anti-corruption court where she’s facing charges of abuse of office and economic crimes at Milimani law courts on Monday 24 August, 2015. BY SAM ALFAN.
Former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Gladys Boss Shollei, now claims shes being prosecuted because of politics
This is after she appeared in the Milimani courts in Nairobi to answer abuse of office charges but vehemently protested that she was a victim of political persecution.
Shollei presented herself before the chief magistrate of the anti-corruption court Felix Kombo and denied the four-count indictment relating to the controversial acquisition of the official residence of the Chief Justice.
She was granted Sh600, 000 cash bail requiring her to attend trial whose dates will be fixed on September 7.
“I am in court because of politics. I am in court because I stepped on some toes and some people are determined to fix me. I have also heard rumors that I am being persecuted because of perceptions that I have political interests,” Shollei told journalists outside the court precincts after securing her liberty.
The former powerful Accounting Officer of the Judiciary exclaimed that she was “relieved and amused” by the criminal charges since the allegations against her did not involve theft of money, receiving bribes or engaging in corrupt activities. Instead, she was merely accused of improperly conferring a benefit by signing a valid commercial contract and failure to ensure that Government funds were used in an efficient, economical and transparent manner, Shollei said.
She dismissed her prosecution on “trumped-up charges” and reiterated that she had been hired to make independent judgments and firm decisions. “I do not fear those who want to kill my spirit, my energy and passion. I do not fear those who want to destroy me because I am indestructible,” Shollei said in press statement.
Shollei was charged alongside six former Judiciary Staffs who took plea on August 5.Shollei did not take plea that day as she was outside the country.
The six former tender review commissioners denied the charges and were released on a bond of sh 1.5 million or a cash bail of sh 600,000.
The court heard that Shollei and the six commissioners, Francis Kakai Kissinger ,Martin Okwatta, Benedict Omollo, Thomas Oloko Atak, Nicholas Mbeba and Wycliffe Wanga being the Tender engaged in irregularly purchasing a fully furnished residential property of the Chief Justice from Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings Limited at a sum of sh 310 million.
They were also charged with willful failure to comply with the law and applicable procedures relating to tendering of contracts contrary to the law.
Shollei and the six were also charged with failing to ensure that the Judiciary did not pay in excess of the prevailing market prices in the purchase of a residential property from Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings Limited for the sum of sh 310 million.
