National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei speaking at Burnt Forest Sub-County Hospital in Uasin Gishu County during a free medical camp on July 24, 2023. She took issue with Azimio Leader Raila Odinga for calling anti-government protests that have seen several demonstrators killed, saying their blood is in his hands.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei’s name has been dragged into the ongoing court case on the ownership of a Sh100 million prime piece of land involving two families in Uasin Gishu County.
Ms Shollei’s name was introduced in the matter by a petitioner, Abraham Chebii, a senior driver employed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), who on Monday told an Eldoret court that his life was in danger following alleged threats from Ms Shollei concerning the land in question.
Mr Chebii told Justice Robert Wananda that his life was in danger over the disputed 37-acre land, bringing to the attention of the court that Ms Shollei, who is also Uasin Gishu woman representative, had warned him to withdraw the case from court or face unspecified consequences.
While testifying in the case, Mr Chebii pleaded with the court to guarantee his safety as he continues to testify in the case against parties that are laying claim to the contested land.
"I would like to bring to your attention the safety of my life which is in danger following threats against me by Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei in regards to the land ownership case matter I have filed in court," Mr Chebii told the court.
He said hat the county MP was against his move to pursue his rights over the parcel located in Kaptagat settlement scheme in Ainabkoi even though she is not a party to the suit before the court.
Mr Chebii has laid claim to the property which he insists he inherited from his deceased father, Paul Cherono, while the family of the late Philip Cheruiyot Tumbes, through his elder son Cledy Kiprono Cheruiyot, insists the land belongs to their deceased father.
The family has termed Mr Chebii a stranger in the matter.
On his part, Mr Chebii told the court that his late father leased the said land to the Tumbes over 60 years ago since he had in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
He further dismissed claims by the Tumbes that his father was childless and instead clarified that he had two children, including his sister.
"To claim that my father had no children is an utter lie since my dad sired two children when he married my mother Esther Chebet," argued Mr Chebii.
Mr Chebii, who is represented by lawyer Andrew Kiboi, claimed that he has documentary evidence to show that the said land belongs to his late father who acquired the property over 60 years ago.
But the objectors, through Cledy Kiprono Cheruiyot, who are represented by lawyer Elijah Momanyi, claim they have original title deeds for the property, and challenged the judicial officer to produce his ownership documents if indeed he is the rightful owner of the disputed land.
According to Mr Cheruiyot, his father acquired the said land in 1965 and registered it as plot no 173 under the name Paul Philip Cherono.
"We have been living here since our childhood. Our parents died here and their graves are here," added Mr Cheruiyot in his testimony.
Justice Wananda adjourned the hearing to March 10 when three more witnesses, among them the registrar of persons, are expected to testify in the matter.
