A candidate for the postion of Chief Registrar on Friday shed tears before the Judicial Service Commission while responding to allegations made against her, concerning a domestic issue, in a letter sent to the interview panel by a member of the public.
Mrs Grace Nzioka sought to clarify that the sender of the letter used to be her house help who was just out to malign her image and tarnish her reputation. It was however not clear as to what the allegation entailed as it was not revealed in the interview process.
The Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate, who is also mourning the death of her mother, said she couldn’t believe that the person she had hired and trusted to take care of her sick mother could make such claims. She said it was a ploy to ruin her 24-year judicial career and she would take appropraiate legal action.
“I am a church elder who holds my reputation dearly and values other aspects of my life beyond the bench and I am therefore very disturbed by such allegations,” said Mrs Nzioka.
It was a very emotional moment that prompted Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to tell her that judicial officers had to develop a thick skin to handle any matters as they occur. JSC commissioners assured her that they took the information with a pinch of salt and it won’t be used to determine whether or not she gets the job.
Mrs Nzioka first appeared before the JSC on Wednesday when she was interviewed for the post of High Court Judge. She however said that given a choice between the two jobs she would prefer to be a judge because that is where her passion lies. These sentiments were shared by Industrial court registrar, Hellen Wasilwa, who had also been shortlisted for both positions.
The commission praised Ms Wasilwa for her humanity and compassion that was captured in the editorial of the Sunday Nation on 28th July, 2002. In that incident, as a magistrate in Nakuru, she ordered that four scruffy children and weak with hunger, who were brought before her to be first cleaned, fed and clothed.
The industrial court registrar was however taken to task on how she can manage a Sh9 billion judiciary budget given that she currently handles a Sh150 million budget. Commissioners also sought to get her understanding of basic accounting concepts such as book keeping, cash flow analysis, a balance sheet, trial balance, break even point, business plan and budgeting.
Unlike other JSC interviews where candidates are asked mainly law-related questions, candidates for the post of chief registrar had to respond to varied issues ranging from management, accounting, procurement, human resource development, to integrity.
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