Gladys Shollei denies second abuse of office charge
Former Judiciary chief registrar Gladys Boss Shollei, who on January 12, 2016 denied a second corruption case relating to the loss of Sh18 million in the Judiciary. FILE PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Shollei and her seven co-accused are alleged to have unilaterally increased the advance down payment for court buildings from 10 per cent to 50 per cent without the approval of the tender committee.
- They also jointly face a charge of abuse of office for awarding Timsales Limited the tender to construct the Runyenjes Court Station without following the procurement process.
Former Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei was on Tuesday charged with abuse of office in a second corruption case relating to her tenure at the Judiciary.
The case arises from questionable procurement deals for construction of court buildings in Tawa, Mavoko and Garsen.
But Ms Shollei who addressed journalists outside the court soon after she was released on bond scoffed at the charges saying: “The charges are ridiculous and trumped up. What they are charging me with is not corruption nor loss of money but the decision made during the procurement.”
“After these cases are over, EACC will collapse because of its incompetence,” Ms Shollei said. She appeared before Milimani principal magistrate Felix Kombo and denied three charges.
She is charged alongside seven other members of the tender committee who allegedly increased the advance down payment for construction of the court buildings unilaterally from 10 per cent to 50 per cent without the approval of the tender committee.
Her seven co-accused, who were members of a contract negotiation committee, pleaded to the charges a week ago.
The seven are former deputy chief registrar Kakai Kissinger, Martin Otieno Okwata (former director of supply chain management), Benedict Abonyo Omollo (former director of finance) and tender committee members Wycliffe Wanga Ombunde, Nicholas Muturi Okemwa, Nicholas Mbeba and Thomas Oloo Atak.
They are accused of failing to comply with procurement laws by awarding a direct tender to Timsales Limited and increasing the advance down payment to the company from 10 per cent to 50 per cent.
They also jointly face a charge of abuse of office for awarding Timsales the tender to construct the Runyenjes Court Station without following the procurement process, leading to the loss of Sh18.3 million.
Ms Shollei, Mr Kissinger, Mr Okwata and Mr Omollo face a charge of abuse of office for changing the terms and conditions of a contract awarded to Timsales without the approval of the tender committee.
The former registrar was granted a cash bail of Sh300,000 or bond of Sh1 million.
The case will be mentioned of February 9 for “further directions.”
The Judiciary is said to have lost up to Sh168 million in questionable tenders.
