EACC recommends Shollei, Waikenda be charged with abuse of office

Former Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei and ex-Immigration boss Jane Waikenda. They are to be charged with abuse of office. PHOTOS | FILE 

By STELLAR MURUMBA, smurumba@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• EACC proposes Ms Shollei be charged alongside members of the Judiciary tender committee in relation to an irregular payment of Sh46 million for the construction of pre-fabricated courts in Mavoko.
• Ms Waikenda is accused of irregularly issuing permits at the Immigrations offices.
• The EACC also recommended administrative action NSSF Acting Managing Trustee Richard Kipkoech Langat.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recommended that former Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Boss Shollei and ex-Immigration boss Jane Waikenda be charged with abuse of office.

The corruption watchdog advised that Ms Shollei be charged along with deputy chief registrar Kakai Kissinger and members of the Judiciary tender committee in relation to an irregular payment of Sh46 million for the construction of pre-fabricated courts in Mavoko by the Judicial Service Commission.

The tender committee members accused of complicity in making the payment include Martin Otieno Okwata (Director Supply Chain), Benedict Abonyo Omollo, Wycliff Wanga Obunde, Nicholas Muturi Kemwa, Nicholas Mbeba and Thomas Oloo Atak.

The six committee members have previously been jointly charged with corruption in relation to the purchase of residential property for the Chief Justice at Sh310 million without prior planning. They denied the charges.

READ: Shollei tender committee charged over Sh310m CJ house

Ms Waikenda - who was the former Director of Immigration until August last year - is accused of irregularly issuing permits to foreigners at the Immigration offices. Also accused of the same is Abraham Mwaura who was the assistant director and acting in charge of permits.

“EACC recommends that the suspects be charged with abuse of office and related offences,” read a statement from the the Director of Public Prosecution's (DPP) office.

Administrative action

EACC also recommended administrative action National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Acting Managing Trustee Richard Kipkoech Langat on allegations that the NSSF board irregularly approved a budget of Sh5 billion for the regularisation of Tassia II housing scheme.

His file was initially submitted to Mr Tobiko with recommendation for administrative action against Mr Langat but the DPP ordered further investigations. On resubmission, however, EACC found no criminal culpability on the part of any member of the NSSF board.

“EACC however recommends administrative action against the suspect for exposing the Fund to contractual obligations when all the funds to finance the project had not been collected from the tenants,” the statement read.

EACC reports indicate that the tender for the scheme’s infrastructure development was awarded to China Jiangxi International Kenya Limited.