Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei to respond to graft claims Tuesday

PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei when she appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs at Parliament Buildings on August 21, 2013.   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Official expected to answer questions of impropriety in the Judiciary against her
• JSC declines to grant chief registrar more time

By PAUL OGEMBA

Embattled Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei is on Tuesday expected to respond to questions of impropriety in the Judiciary after the Chief Justice declined her request for extension.

Mrs Shollei had requested for extension of the 21 days given to respond to allegations of corruption levelled against her but Dr Willy Mutunga told her that a meeting of the Judicial Service Commission held on Saturday rejected any extension of the days for submissions of the answers.

“The deadline for the submission of your responses is on Tuesday, October 1,” said the CJ.

According to Dr Mutunga, Mrs Shollei was aware of the process and the time she was required to respond and which she publicly endorsed, adding the JSC would have no problem making public her responses once they received them.

“We had hoped both the allegations and the responses would be made public at the same time but the allegations were leaked to the Press by unknown people. I believe the JSC will not have any problems making public your responses the moment they are received,” said Dr Mutunga.

Mrs Shollei immediately responded to the CJ saying he should have been humane enough to accord her more time and that although the law is clear that she should be entitled to a “reasonable time,” she was not afraid to present the answers and would give whatever she has.

“You had assured me personally that I would get an extension because I was also performing my duties and was busy, especially because I was finalising the Annual Financial Report...,” she said.

Mrs Shollei had written a request to the JSC through the CJ on September 12 for extension of the time, two days after she was handed a list of allegations of impropriety and corruption in procurement of Judiciary equipment, saying she would only be ready on October 15 or any day thereafter.