Finland Scholarship Saga haunts Senator Mandago

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Mandago is under fire after an ad-hoc committee which investigated the scholarship saga found out that three senior officers under his administration were responsible for the mess. The former county boss has then distanced himself from the accusations terming them baseless and unfounded. Page 2.

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Embattled former Uasin-Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago has finally broken silence over Finland scholarship programme saga which allegedly saw millions of shillings lost during his tenure.

Mandago, now Uasin-Gishu Senator has come under fire after an ad-hoc committee which investigated the scholarship saga found out that three senior officers under his administration were responsible for the mess as they made themselves signatories of the fund to enrich themselves and withdrew millions of money on diverse dates.

But Senator Mandago distanced himself from the accusations terming them baseless and unfounded.

According to the former Governor, no coin was lost in the scholarship programme which was rolled out by his administration.

"I've heard alot of falsehoods about the scholarship programme being peddled and it is good that I set the records straight. Do you think I can really embezzle school fees for our children? No. Not Arap Mandago," said Senator Mandago.

The two terms Governor was succeeded by Jonathan Bii alias 'Koti' moja while he dethroned Margaret Kamar.

"I was Governor for 10 years and at no time did I misappropriate any public funds. Did you hear at any point that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) came to my office or my house to investigate me?" Mandago added.

He said the claims is the work of his political detractors who were out to tarnish his name.

"Some of those spreading rumours had not even managed to raise all the fees and we managed with other parents to assist them meet the target and we paid all the fees and the children went to Finland," Mandago said.

Speaking recently in Ziwa, Trans-Nzoia, Senator Mandago said since independence, no Kalenjin leader has managed to secure scholarships for such a high number of students to study abroad, like he did.

He said the fruits of scholarship programme is already being felt with many youth in foreign countries already sending money to their relatives and parents back home.

"It is allowed if you want to fight Mandago politically. But don't drag issues to do with our children's welfare and livelihoods. Don't hide in shadows but face me directly as a man,"said Senator Mandago.

Rural Times News established that the first group of 202 students who went to Finland left Kenya between September 2021 and September 2022 with 111 going to Tampere University, Jvaskyla (25), while 66 went to Laurea University.

In the arrangement, each parent of the students managed to raise Sh1.19 million as school fees for the county government to ensure they are placed at Universities in Finland.

The parents also raised Sh100, 000 (air ticket), three months accommodation (Sh80,000), insurance (Sh30,000), visa (Sh49,000) and Covid-19 certificate Sh5,000.

However, months later, cracks are emerging in the programme with many students risking being deported back to the country after the devolved unit failed to channel the money into the various Universities accounts as per the agreement with the parents.

Governor Bii who accompanied Senator Mandago said the county government has already set up a task force headed by his Deputy John Barorot to address challenges facing the

University has lapsed.

Among others, the Uasin-Gishu County Assembly ad-hoc committee has recommended that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conduct a probe into forgery, abuse of office and integrity of county officers who served under Mandago’s administration.

One student has already committed suicide in the Finnish country due to what has been attributed to frustration.

Rodgers Kipruto, 26, was pursuing his studies at Laurea University's Tikkurila campus in Finland before his untimely death.

The third born in a family of six, enrolled for a degree in nursing after quitting his job as a nurse at Nakuru programme.

“We want them to visit Finland and get first-hand information on the challenges the students are facing. It is true may be some are frustrated because when they reached the country, they did not get what they had anticipated,” said Governor Bii.

Reports indicates fees for the second semester in other universities in Finland were due on March 31st, 2023 while the due date for Tampere

Level-five Hospital.

Apparently, Kipruto led a frustrated life after Laurea University terminated his studies in March after completing his first semester.

It was further established that Laurea University had to put on hold studies for students pursuing nursing and physiotherapy until the tuition fees for the second semester are paid.