JSC in court to stop financial probe on its members

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has moved to court seeking orders to stop the National Assembly and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from investigating its members of the Finance and Administration Commission.

In a certificate of urgency filed at the Milimani Law Court, JSC argues that the decision of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) that recommended various commissioners of the JSC must take personal responsibility for allowances paid to them for attending meetings that were convened without the knowledge and approval of the Chief Justice is invalid and lacks any Constitution validity.

“Following the dismissal of the former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Gladys Shollei, on grounds of financial impropriety on her part, the PAC requested the Auditor General to carry out a financial audit of JSC herein for the years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013,” read the petition.

On February 16, 2016, the National Assembly adopted the Public Accounts Committee on JSC and the Judiciary Special Audit Report on May 2014.

The members of the Finance and Administration Committee of the JSC to be investigated include Smoking Wanjala, Mohammed Warsame, Ahmednassir Abdullahi, Rev. Samuel Kobia, Christine Mango and Emily Ominde.

PAC directed that they be individually investigated for their roles in some of the financial improprieties and irregularities at the JSC.

JSC is also seeking orders to stop EACC from recommending any charges against the said members to the Director of Public Prosecution pending hearing and determination of the petition.