Chuka: Parents and students affected by the Uasin Gishu Finland and Canada overseas education programme have appealed to the national government to intervene and help them rebuild their lives following the acquittal of former Uasin Gishu Governor and current Senator Jackson Mandago and his two co-accused in the Sh1.1 billion scholarship case.
According to Kenya News Agency, the victims addressed the media in Eldoret a day after a Nakuru court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against the accused. They said the judgment had dealt them a major blow after nearly four years of pursuing justice. Speaking on behalf of the affected parents, Shadrack Juma expressed how the ruling had left hundreds of families devastated despite assurances previously given by President William Ruto. The parents had made significant sacrifices, selling property and borrowing money to educate their children abroad, only to be left without justice.
Juma personally paid Sh 1.27 million in August 2022 after securing a bank loan, convinced his child would study in Finland as part of the county government-sponsored programme. He continues to service that loan while his child remains at home, unable to pursue the education they were promised. Juma questioned the whereabouts of the money, noting that over 300 students were affected after parents collectively paid hundreds of millions into the programme.
Juma further revealed that some parents had filed separate claims before the Small Claims Court to recover part of their money, but these cases had faced repeated adjournments without resolution. He urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conduct fresh investigations into the movement of the funds and emphasized that the affected families would pursue all available legal avenues until justice was served.
In an emotional appeal to President William Ruto, Juma urged the Head of State to intervene and help restore the students’ hopes. Another parent, Esther Kemboi, expressed how families had exhausted their savings, taken loans, and even sold property in the hope of securing better educational opportunities for their children abroad. She appealed to the government to prioritize the affected students by either facilitating the education opportunities they were promised or helping families recover from the financial burden they continue to bear.
Victims recounted the financial and emotional toll the failed programme has had on their lives. Hope Kiprono, 24, shared how the collapse of the programme derailed both his academic and career aspirations. He and his brother each paid Sh 650,000 in late 2022 after securing admission to pursue a Diploma in Hospitality at Stenberg College in Canada, only to receive no further communication regarding admission, visa processing, or travel arrangements.
Asenath Okerio, a registered clinical officer, paid Sh 750,000 in August 2022 after securing admission to pursue a Nursing degree at Thompson Rivers University in Canada. Her family sold ancestral land to raise the money, trusting the county-managed programme would facilitate university admission, visa processing, and travel. She now appeals for an immediate refund to start a business and support her family.
The affected parents and students announced plans to stage a demonstration at the Uasin Gishu County Government headquarters next Tuesday to demand immediate cash refunds for the money paid into the failed overseas education programme. They criticized the Nakuru court’s decision to acquit Mandago and his co-accused, saying the ruling had denied them justice despite the financial, emotional, and psychological hardships they had endured over the years.
The victims also called on Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii to take responsibility for resolving the matter, arguing that the county government implemented the programme and should ensure the affected families are compensated or the students are facilitated to pursue the overseas education they were promised. Despite the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, the victims maintained their pursuit of justice and compensation would continue through lawful means until all affected families receive redress.
