NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug – Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and County Governor Jonathan Bii found themselves on the receiving end of students who were supposed to report to various universities in Finland and Canada, despite paying millions to the devolved unit.
The top leadership of the county was confronted on Monday by angry parents and their children who sought to know where their monies went.
The county has been in the spotlight over a fake scholarship scandal purportedly undertaken by the county government, and it is said that approximately Sh200 million was debited to the Uasin Gishu county’s overseas accounts that cannot be accounted for.
One after the other, the victims of the scandal narrated tearfully their ordeal with the county officials in what has now been exposed as a back-and-forth push by the parents to get their money back.
“It is so painful. You have given us a lot of information. We don’t want more information. Give my mother back her money,” said a student in a viral video now making the rounds on social media.
“Our parents are sick. They are depressed. I went to school with your kids who are currently overseas. There are students who are also on anti depressants. You have given your children head starts unlike us, “lamented another student.
Last month, sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations commenced investigations into allegations of fraud involving a scholarship program to Finland.
“All aggrieved victims are requested to present themselves at the DCI County Headquarters in Eldoret, on July 18 for statement recording and other investigative procedures in order to bring the suspects to book,” said DCI boss Mohammed Amin.
Bii has distanced himself from the saga and asked his predecessor and Mandago to come out and explain what happened.
