Elders, bishops step in to resolve Sh1 billion Finland education fiasco

Kalenjin elders and church leaders in Uasin Gishu have apologised to families affected by the Sh1 billion Finland and Canada overseas education programme and pledged to help resolve the long-running dispute within two months.

The leaders also appealed to parents and students to suspend planned demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday, saying they had initiated efforts to broker an amicable solution following last week's acquittal of Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two co-accused in a case linked to the programme.

The appeal comes amid growing anger from hundreds of victims, many of whom expressed frustration after the Nakuru court cleared the three accused, saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

More than 300 parents paid money to the Uasin Gishu County Government under the overseas education programme, hoping to secure study opportunities for their children in Finland and Canada. However, many students never travelled after the programme collapsed.

At a meeting in Eldoret, church leaders led by Bishop Phillip Rono and Kalenjin Council of Elders chairman Edwin Chepsiror, alongside Major (Rtd) John Seii, resolved to engage victims, political leaders and other stakeholders in search of a lasting solution.

"We apologise for what happened because we have been touched by the cries of those affected. We know it is very painful for them because they lost their hard-earned money," Bishop Rono said.

Rono urged residents to maintain peace, warning that street protests could disrupt normal activities in Eldoret.

Major (Rtd) Seii said the elders had taken up the matter and were committed to helping the affected families find a solution.

"Let the affected families have confidence in us because, as elders and church leaders, we will ensure we get a solution that will please everyone," Seii said.

The intervention follows protests staged by parents and students shortly after the acquittal, with victims vowing to intensify pressure on the county government to refund their money.

Parents, led by Shadrack Juma, and affected students, led by Asenath Okerio, said the court's decision had not resolved their financial losses and urged Governor Jonathan Bii to ensure they were refunded.

"The court has made its decision, but we paid our money to the county and failed to get the study opportunities in Finland and Canada for our children," Juma said.

Juma, who said he lost more than Sh1.2 million, vowed that the families would continue pursuing refunds.

Okerio said she dropped out of a local college after securing what she believed was an opportunity to study in Canada, only for the plan to collapse.

"Life has been so stressful for us, yet justice seems elusive. We will fight on, and those who took our money will one day pay for it," she said.

In acquitting Mandago and his co-accused, Senior Principal Magistrate Alloyce Ndege noted that the prosecution had called 138 witnesses, most of them victims, but found that the evidence presented did not prove the charges beyond the required legal threshold.

"I dismiss all charges against the accused persons and acquit them," the magistrate ruled.

Despite the acquittal, Juma said the victims would continue pursuing compensation, including through cases already filed in the Small Claims Court.