Finland Scholarship Saga: A Nakuru court has issued an arrest warrant for Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago after his non-appearance during a plea hearing. The court’s directive is for Mandago’s detention “with the intention of presenting him before the court to respond to the mentioned accusation and undergo appropriate legal procedures.”

Mandago is among four people implicated in a contentious scholarship saga within North Rift County.

Mandago, together with other county officials face allegations of colluding to embezzle Ksh. 1.1 billion from Kenya Commercial Bank account based in Eldoret and registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund which was originally designated for covering overseas university fees for students enrolled in the Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Programme.

As the discontinued Finland and Canada scholarship initiative incites widespread anger and considerable demonstrations in Uasin Gishu, numerous graduates and their families have taken to the streets to demand reimbursements from the county administration.

Up to this point, Mandago has recorded a statement to investigators from the DCI in order to assist in the inquiry. Furthermore, detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have interrogated him regarding his involvement in the initiative, which came up during his tenure as governor.

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As per accounts, the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund account was opened in May 2021, and by December 2022, parents had deposited Ksh. 957,167,143 into the account. An aggregate of Ksh. 257,326,740 was withdrawn from the account to facilitate the travel of beneficiaries to Finland and Canada for the programs.

The EACC’s focus of investigation centers around Ksh. 57, 538, 429 that was withdrawn locally by Uasin Gishu County officials assigned to manage the fund.

Senator Mandago has reiterated his commitment to complying with any summons issued, refuting claims of being sought after by DCI officers.

“There are rumors all over Eldoret Town that DCI officers have been looking for me the whole night. As a law-abiding citizen, I am available once summoned. I have met with the leadership of parents and agreed on the way forward as per their press statement issued last evening,” Senator Mandago said on X.