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Mandago grilled by EACC over Finland scholarship scam

However, Mandago said he did not swindle any money from the programme

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by PERPETUA ETYANG

Rift-valley01 August 2023 - 17:36
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In Summary


  • On Tuesday, parents affected by the Finland education scam protested demanding a refund of more than Sh300 million.
  • Police escorted the parents during the peaceful protests but blocked them from accessing Governor Bii's office.
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago after he was grilled by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives over the county’s scholarship on August 1, 2023.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago was Tuesday, August 1 grilled by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives over the county’s scholarship scam.

Mandago honoured the summons and appeared at EACC from 8.00 am on Tuesday to record a statement.

This is a separate probe being conducted by the EACC parallel to another one by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Earlier on Tuesday, a group of protesters staged a demonstration in Eldoret Town over the saga. The protesters said they want a refund of their money.

More than 300 parents were also directed to record statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Eldoret.

Police escorted the parents during the peaceful protests but blocked them from accessing Governor Jonathan Bii's office.

However, Mandago defended himself over the Finland education scam saying he did not swindle any money from the programme.

It is not clear what Mandago was asked to explain over the saga. Sources said the probe is ongoing.

When Mandago walked out of the EACC grilling room he blamed politics for the developments.

“The programme is above board and clean. To me all these are politics,” he said.

And he said he will make sure those not satisfied get justice.

This came as the controversial multi-million shilling Uasin Gishu scholarship programme has been reduced to a blame game between Governor Bii and Mandago.

Bii has distanced himself from blame calling on Mandago to come out clean in the scandal in which millions of students' money was allegedly misappropriated.

Mandago refuted allegations levelled against him while asking Bii to take responsibility as the leader of the county.

Mandago said that when he left office after last year's election, he handed over all the duties and performance of the county and entrusted it to his successor Bii.

“I am responsible for all my errors of commission and omission. I cannot run away from a programme I initiated,” he said.

The two met to seek a solution to the Finland and Canada scholarship row. Also in attendance were Deputy Governor John Barorot, Nominated Senator Margaret Kamar, as well as MPs Janet Busienei (Turbo), Samwel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) and a section of MCAs.

The controversy over the scam has seen affected parents and students issue ultimatums to be refunded their funds, or else they will stop the upcoming devolution conference set to be held in Eldoret.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said two weeks it had commenced investigations into allegations of fraud involving a scholarship program to Finland, spearheaded by the Uasin Gishu County government.

This follows numerous complaints by members of the public from Uasin Gishu County, who claimed to have defrauded millions of shillings in a scholarship programme to the Scandinavian country, that failed to materialise.

Sleuths from DCI headquarters camped in Uasin Gishu County between July 18-21, for a comprehensive probe, DCI Mohammed Amin said.

The victims were requested to bring all the relevant documents in their possession, related to the matter.


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