Work cut out for new chief registrar

The new Chief Registrar of the Judiciary took the oath of office Monday.

Mrs Ann Atieno Amadi assumed office with firm instructions to jealously guard the independence of the Judiciary and serve with humility.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who presided over the swearing in ceremony at the Supreme Court, Nairobi, outlined four immediate priority areas the incoming registrar would have to focus on.

Dr Mutunga asked Mrs Amadi to focus on terminating corruption, modernising Judiciary operations and ensuring equitable distribution of Judiciary resources.

He also reminded the new registrar of the high expectations of her office and subtly warned her against abusing her office in what could be seen as a pointer to the issues that led to the sacking of former registrar Gladys Shollei.

“The position of the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary is an important office. It is an office of service and not patronage or private gain and should never be ethnicised or enslaved by any forces,” said Dr Mutunga.

Mrs Shollei was sacked on allegations of abuse of and misappropriation of Judiciary funds.

She was also accused of high-handedness.

But Dr Mutunga, who is also the chair of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) which employs Judiciary staff, reminded Mrs Amadi that she must remain accountable to the people of Kenya, the CJ himself and her employer.

“We want to create a Judiciary that administers the law fairly, firmly and impartially and not one whose leadership puts in the marketplace of political and private transactions,” the CJ said.

Mrs Amadi in her acceptance speech acknowledged the task that awaited her as the chief administrator and accounting officer.

“I was well aware of the scope and challenges that attend to this responsibility when I applied for this job and am equally aware of the high expectations Kenyans have on the Judiciary,” she said.

Mrs Amadi’s appointment was announced last Saturday by the CJ in what brought to an end the search for Mrs Shollei’s successor, which began on October 28, 2013.

r children was accompanied by her family members at the swearing in ceremony as she assumed office.

While admitting that her new institution has faced challenges over the last few months following the explosive fall out with her predecessor, Mrs Amadi was assertive that the challenges would positively influence the judiciary.