Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago was on Thursday, August 10, grilled by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regarding the botched Finland, Canada scholarships launched during his reign as the county governor.
Sleuths from the DCI and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) are investigating claims that millions of shillings contributed by parents and guardians for the ambitious study programme were embezzled by the Uasin Gishu County leadership.
Mandago confirmed on Thursday afternoon that he had recorded a statement regarding the probe.
“I have today recorded my statement at the @DCI_Kenya (Kiambu Road) on the Finland and Canada overseas education program,” Mandago said in a post on X, formally Twitter.
More than Ksh800 million was collected from parents for the facilitation of Tertiary Education in Finland and Canada during the Financial Year 2021/22.
The university had entered into an arrangement with the County Government of Uasin Gishu to send local students abroad for further studies. Successful candidates were promised stable employment upon completion of their studies.
Parents of the beneficiaries were required to remit fees through a county government account but the programme faced headwinds following claims of corruption and diversion of money meant to pay fees for the students.
This saw hundreds of beneficiaries discontinue over delayed remittance of fees.
Back at home, dozens of other students on Monday took the county administration including Governor Bii, his deputy John Barorot and Senator Mandago head-on over the scholarship saga as parents and other students cheered her on.
During a meeting held at County Hall, the students led by a young graduate, Mercy Tarus, accused the leadership of taking them in circles regarding their delayed relocation abroad.
“I feel very foolish as I stand before you, considering that I’m very young. I came with my ailing grandfather who has not eaten anything since morning. Wapi watoto wa Bii, Mandago na Barorot hapa? (have you seen Bii’s, Mandago’s or Barorot’s children here?)” Mercy said.
Mercy, who graduated from Kabarak University in 2021 majoring in Bachelor of Education, revealed that she hoped to go to Australia for her further studies but had been forced to sell porridge by the roadside near her home in Marura on the outskirts of Eldoret to make ends meet as her hopes of going abroad continue to fade by the day.
Bii and Mandogo urged the distraught students and angry parents to give them time to refund the monies.
“We are now where we are and I agree with you that you need a refund. I am asking you- because you are demanding we refund the money right now- the truth is that there is no money. It is okay, we will explain where we can.
“You have heard that the money is part of the money that was paid for the students already in the program but that is not your problem. Let us agree, allow us to see how we are going to deal with those parents, what we are going to do but the bottom line is that you must be refunded your money. That one is not in doubt,” Mandago said.
