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Judiciary staff performance in the spotlight

Mutunga said that the performance of the Judiciary has over the years been questionable and this programme will define the role of each member of staff/FILE

Mutunga said that the performance of the Judiciary has over the years been questionable and this programme will define the role of each member of staff/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 18 – Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Friday unveiled a Performance Management and Measuring Steering Committee for the Judiciary staff, as a means of ensuring effective service delivery.

Mutunga said that the performance of the Judiciary has over the years been questionable and this programme will define the role of each member of staff.

“Performance has been a hot potato in the Judiciary for many years. Some have identified the institution as an organisation opposed to performance review and improvement,” Mutunga said.

“Because of distance in the understanding of performance management there has been great opposition to the implementation of the programme.”

Speaking at the launch of the committee, Mutunga added that the review will encourage and motivate workers to do their best in their workstations.

The Chief Justice says that the initiative is geared towards the judicial reforms that seek to streamline operations.

“The benefits include promoting accountability and entrenching effective monitoring,” he said.

“It also enhances effective judicial service delivery at the same time ensuring that there is eradication of corruption as resource allocation will be specific and clear.”

The judicial reform is an initiative that aims at improving the service delivery in the Judiciary which was previously marred with irregularities.

Even as the Judiciary pledges to reform, a recent standoff between the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Shollei may have implication on the fight against corruption.

The JSC had accused Shollei of the graft and abuse of office but she has denied the allegations and has put up a spirited fight and has been quoted as saying “I have an impeccable performance review in the two years I have been there.”

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On Thursday while appearing before the Parliamentary Budget Committee, the Registrar explained her opinion of the origin of her troubles.

“The issue of allowances has been the cause of all the trouble I have been in whilst at the Judiciary. This is after I raised the issue that the JSC have no part to play in matters related to finances yet they insist on their involvement in financial management.”

“They have gone a step further and created a financial sub-committee chaired by Commissioner Ahmednasir (Abdullahi) who without consultation approves payments,” she explained.

She told the Parliamentary Budget Committee that she has on a number of occasions been forced to dance to their tune saying, “I have sometimes let it happen just to save my job making sure not to make enemies.”

The stalemate resulted in Shollei going on forced leave in August but later returned to work after an agreement was reached.
Shollei appeared before the JSC on Friday to begin her defence.

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