By WALTER MENYA (wmenya@ke.nationmedia.com)
Posted Sunday, December 18 2011 at 22:30
Posted Sunday, December 18 2011 at 22:30
Only nine officers run the Judiciary’s procurement department, controlling a Sh3 billion budget meant to be overseen by a team 166.
This came to light after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) advertised 157 positions on Friday to fill the vacancies as part of reforms in the sector.
Of the nine, the most senior officer, who was sent on compulsory leave pending an audit of new court buildings, was not qualified for the job, chief Judiciary registrar Gladys Boss Shollei said. (READ:Top Judiciary officer sent on forced leave)
The senior officer was sent home following revelations that the Milimani Law Courts, refurbished at a cost of Sh1.2 billion, was literally falling apart with collapsed ceilings, malfunctioning locks and washrooms and incomplete works, just eight months after its commissioning.
The Public Works ministry, which supervised the work, and the contractors blame the Judiciary for the deterioration. (READ: Editorial: How contractors are exploiting the public)
Ms Shollei said the department has not hired new officers despite having the money.“The approved structure shows that we should have 166 staff in the procurement department,” she said.
She said the retention of only nine people in the department for such a long time was a clear indication of a deliberate attempt to enrich a few individuals.
“There was a big shortfall of staff and we believe this was part of a racket — nine people handling a Sh3 billion budget every year! They were trying to make themselves millionaires,” said Ms Shollei.
“They never hired people and yet they had the funding. We need stores people to look after properties all over the country. We advertised as part of an effort to clean up. How could nine officers have manned stores all over the country?” she asked.
She said the most senior officer among the nine was five grades below what a person heading such a department should be.
The JSC plans to recruit a senior principal procurement officer who will be deputised by a principal procurement officer.
Besides the hiring, Ms Shollei disclosed that an assessment of the department was currently underway.“To clean up the rot, we have an assessment currently being undertaken by the Public Procurement Oversight Board,” she said.
The Chief Justice, Dr Willy Mutunga, has pledged to clean up the Judiciary, long seen as synonymous with graft.
Dr Mutunga has also directed that an audit of all court buildings in the country be done.
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