Gladys Shollei: I was betrayed by friends
Uasin Gishu County Woman Representative Gladys Shollei says her dismissal from the Judiciary as the Chief Registrar eight years ago, made her wiser and cautious of her interactions with people.
During a women’s forum at a Nairobi hotel on December 17, Ms Shollei recalled betrayal by people she considered friends.
On October 18, 2013 during the era of former Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga, Ms Shollei was removed from office by a unanimous decision of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for incompetence and misbehaviour.
JSC also said she violated prescribed code of conduct for judicial officers as well as Chapter Six on leadership and integrity and Article 232 of 2010 Constitution on value and principles of public service.
She was also accused of misappropriation of Sh2.207 billion.
She challenged her sacking and in March, 2014, Industrial Court Judge Nduma Nderi, ruled in her favour saying the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had dismissed the five counts levelled against her.
Ms Shollei: 'I always assumed if I worked with people, then they are my friends…but now I am very clear who my friends are.'
“Today, if somebody told me they are going to work at the Judiciary, I would tell them, just go there but remember it is the oldest institution in the country. It was established in 1897 so, they have their ways,” she said during the forum organised by Life Project.
She was sharing her life lessons to inspire the women brought together by the non-governmental organisation, which runs a program for inspiring Kenyan women and men through outstanding leaders across all sectors.
Ms Shollei put up a spirited fight to protect her career, which she had built for more than 20 years. For close to two months following her sacking, she maintained regular media appearances through press conferences, television and radio interviews to give her side of the story.
Willy Mutunga
To those who castigated her for doing so, her response was: “I have built my career for over 20 years out of hard work. There is no way I was going to allow Willy Mutunga to stand on a podium and pour cold water over it.”
“If I had let them run with their story and go to my house and hide my head in shame, then their story would still be running today. But I managed to tell my own story in my own words and to give my status report in my own words,” she said.
“Don’t let anybody else write your own life story. Write it yourself,” she advised.
There were tell-tale signs of plans to remove her like several night and early morning out of the office meetings, but she had no clue she was the main agenda of discussion, she said.
One staff member, however, attempted to warn her but she “completely dismissed him,” something she wishes she should not have done.
Life project
She later thanked him for trying to help her.
She advised women against being dismissive of the “small things” team members bring to their attention.
On friendship, the experience taught her the importance of narrowing down her circle.
“I always assumed if I worked with people, then they are my friends…but now I am very clear who my friends are,” she said.
“I am very careful whom I associate with…I remind myself, ‘I am on my own’ so that I manage my own expectations; that way, I’ll not be disappointed. I was at a point where I expected people to reach out and support me and they didn’t.”
Life Project founder Eunice Lumallas said they seek to hold more of such forums across the country to shine hope to Kenyans. BY DAILY NATION

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