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Mandago, two others to appear in court over graft related charges

They spent the night in custody ahead of the arraignment

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by CYRUS OMBATI

News17 August 2023 - 05:37
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In Summary


    Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago on August 1, 2023.

    Uasin Gishu County Senator Jackson Mandago and two others are Thursday expected to be arraigned over a number of graft related charges.

    He and his former staff at the county Joshua Kipkemoi and Meshack Rono were Wednesday arrested in Nakuru and detained overnight ahead of the arraignment.

    This followed a move by the Nakuru court to issue warrants to arrest the three.

    A fourth suspect Joseph Kipkemoi Maritim was not captured amid reports he is out of the country.

    The DCI said he left the country on an unknown day.

    They will face charges of abuse of office and stealing.

    They are also supposed to face charges of conspiracy to commit felony, stealing and abuse of office.

    They are also accused of forgery.

    They are accused of conspiring to steal Sh1.1 billion from an account domiciled at the Kenya Commercial Bank in Eldoret.

    The account is registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund meant for overseas university fees for students under Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Programme.

    On abuse of office, a charge sheet read; “Jackson Kiplagat Mandago, on diverse dates between 1st March and 31st March 2022 at Eldoret town within Uasin Gishu County, being the Governor of Uasin Gishu County arbitrarily entered into a Memorandum of Understanding between various Universities in Finland and Canada on behalf of Uasin Gishu County Government without resolution and approval by County Assembly of Uasin Gishu, an act which was prejudicial to the County Government of Uasin Gishu.”

    The other three officials are supposed to face stealing charges.

    “Joseph Kipkemoi Maritim, Meshak Rono and Joshua Kipkemoi Lelei, on diverse dates between the month of June 2021 and 12th September 2022 at Kenya Commercial Bank Eldoret East Branch in Eldoret Town within Uasin Gishu County, jointly with others not before court stole Sh56,512,300/= from account number 1285922978 registered in the name of Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust, the property of Uasin Gishu Overseas Education."

    The charge sheet read on Lelei: “On diverse dates between 12th August 2021 and 12th September 2022 at Kenya Commercial Bank Eldoret East Branch in Eldoret Town within Uasin Gishu County, jointly with others not before court stole Sh2,707,000/= from account number 1285922778 registered in the name of Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust, the property of Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust.”

    President William Ruto Wednesday told those who stole millions from parents in the Finance scan to return the money.

    He said the fiasco was embarrassing and he would not allow such a thing to happen again.

    Ruto who spoke in Eldoret town said it was an embarrassment for anyone to steal money meant for education of young people in Uasin Gishu.

    He said those involved should carry their own cross

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