Gladys Shollei, seven others charged, released on Ksh 1M bond

Former Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei has been charged with abuse of office and failing to comply with the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

Shollei is accused of using her office to confer a benefit to Timsale Ltd in the refurbishment of Mavoko Law Courts buildings in Mavoko by varying the terms of the contract in January 2013.

Seven other top former Judiciary staff were charged with irregular procurement of a palatial home for the Chief Justice worth Ksh 310 million.

Appearing before Principal Magistrate Felix Kombo, Shollei and the seven others denied the charges and were freed on a Ksh 1 million bond or an alternative Ksh 300,000 cash bail.

It is alleged that, being members of pre-contract negotiation committee for construction of Mavoko, Tunyenjes and Garsen Court buildings, the suspects conferred benefit to Timescales Ltd by varying terms and conditions of contract without approval by the Tender Committee.

They are further accused of unlawfully increasing the down payment from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. It also emerged that the accused awarded tender to Timsales Ltd without carrying out a tendering process and without a written contract.

The case will be mentioned on February 9th, 2016.

Last week, Shollei’s application at the High Court seeking to stop the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko from arresting or charging her was denied.

Shollei wanted the court to issue orders protecting her from possible arrest and prosecution by EACC and Tobiko’s office over allegation of corruption in the construction of Mavoko Law Courts.

Other suspects in the case are former Judiciary Deputy Chief Registrar Kakai Kissinger, former director of supply chain management Martin Otieno Okwata, former director of finance Benedict Abonyo Omollo, former legal officer Nicholas Muturi Okemwa, officer in charge of transport Nicholas Mbeba, Thomas Oloko Atak an IT expert and Wycliffe Wanga.

By Agnes Oloo