Senator Jackson Mandago set to appear in court in alleged scholarship scam
Uasin Gishu Senator, Jackson Mandago, along with his co-accused in a scandal involving a Finland/Canada scholarship fund totaling Sh1.1 billion, is scheduled to make a court appearance on the morning of Thursday, August 17, 2023.
Mandago’s arrest occurred on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, orchestrated by investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who took him into custody and transported him to Nakuru for questioning.
The arrest followed a warrant issued against Mandago after he failed to appear in court for the initial plea hearing.
Mandago, the immediate former Governor of Uasin Gishu county, stands accused alongside county officials including Meshack Rono, Joseph Maritim, and Joshua Lelei.
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According to a charge sheet obtained by this reporter, the suspects are alleged to have collaborated in embezzling Sh1.1 billion from a Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) account based in Eldoret Town, registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund.
The fund was originally designated for overseas university tuition fees as part of a scholarship program.
President William Ruto, a staunch ally of Senator Mandago who secured the position on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, addressed the scandal during a recent visit. The controversy led to numerous scholarship recipients being stranded abroad due to the misappropriation of funds.
This week, Ruto acknowledged the ongoing investigation while attending the three-day Devolution Conference in Uasin Gishu. He emphasized the need for those responsible for misusing or mishandling scholarship funds to rectify the situation and initiate refunds.
Addressing the gathered residents, President Ruto stated, “I am aware of the Finland issue, and there are parents who contributed money, but the whereabouts of their funds are unknown.” He urged anyone implicated in the fraud to address the matter promptly or face legal consequences.
Also read: Mandago promises to refund Finland Scholarship ‘scam’ money