Questions Linger as Governor Jonathan Bii Breaks Silence After Mandago’s Acquittal in Sh1.1 Billion Finland Scholarship Saga
While parents pursued compensation through the Eldoret Small Claims Court, the county government successfully obtained court orders halting delivery of judgment in those proceedings.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim at a past event. Bii has broken his silence following the acquittal of former Governor Jackson Mandago in the Sh1.1 billion Finland scholarship case. (File photo)
By Hubz Reporter
Days after a Nakuru court acquitted Uasin Gishu Senator and former Governor Jackson Mandago alongside two former county officials in the long-running Sh1.1 billion Finland and Canada overseas education case, Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim has finally broken his silence, promising to pursue an Alternative Justice System (AJS) to help affected families seek closure.
The statement, released on July 27, comes four days after Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Mandago, former County Executive for Education Dr. Victorine Kapkiai and former Chief Officer for Education Samuel Kurgat, effectively bringing to an end one of Kenya’s most controversial education fraud prosecutions.
In his address, Governor Bii emphasized that the Overseas Education Programme “was not a County Government programme” and that money paid by parents “was not deposited into any County Government account.”
“We recognize our moral and leadership responsibility to support efforts aimed at finding a lawful and lasting resolution,” Bii said.
The governor also questioned what becomes of the students whose parents lost money, who should bear responsibility for managing the funds, and whether any refunds have been made.
However, while the statement seeks to project renewed commitment to justice, it has also reopened uncomfortable questions about the county administration’s own conduct over the past three years.
Why Now?
For many parents who lost millions of shillings under the overseas education programme, the governor’s appeal for mediation raises a fundamental question: Why did the county government wait until after the collapse of the criminal case to pursue justice?
The criminal proceedings lasted for more than three years, during which hundreds of affected parents repeatedly sought support from the county government.
Yet critics argue that throughout that period, Governor Bii’s administration appeared largely absent from the parents’ legal battle.
Political analysts note that the governor’s latest statement portrays the county as a concerned observer rather than an active participant, despite the county’s involvement in several legal proceedings related to the matter.
The Witness Who Never Testified
One of the most contentious issues concerns Governor Bii’s own role in the Nakuru criminal trial.
Court records show that Bii had been listed as one of the prosecution witnesses. However, despite several summonses and warrants requiring his attendance, he never testified before the court. Instead, he was eventually dropped from the list of witnesses.
Legal observers say his testimony could have provided crucial insight into the county’s handling of the matter after he assumed office in September 2022.
His failure to testify remains one of the questions raised by some of the affected families, particularly now that the governor is presenting himself as a champion of accountability.
Neither the governor’s latest statement nor county officials addressed why he did not honour the court summonses.
County’s Court Action Against Parents
Another issue omitted from the governor’s statement concerns litigation initiated by the County Government itself.
While parents pursued compensation through the Eldoret Small Claims Court, the county government successfully obtained court orders halting delivery of judgment in those proceedings.
To many affected families, that legal intervention contradicted the county’s current position that it is committed to helping victims obtain justice.
Several parents have argued that the move delayed their pursuit of compensation and effectively stalled one of the few legal avenues available to recover their money.
Governor Bii’s statement makes no reference to the county’s decision to seek those court orders or whether the administration intends to withdraw any pending legal objections.
A Different Programme—or More of the Same?
The governor also faces renewed scrutiny over his own overseas education initiative launched shortly after assuming office.
In late 2022, Bii travelled to Canada, where the county government signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including partnerships with Thompson Rivers University and institutions in Northern Ireland and Canada, aimed at facilitating education opportunities for Uasin Gishu youth.
At the time, the county described the agreements as the beginning of a new chapter that would send the first batch of students abroad.
However, critics question how those agreements differed from the overseas education programme initiated under Mandago’s administration.
The former governor’s programme had similarly relied on partnerships with foreign institutions and assurances that students would access education abroad after making substantial financial contributions.
While Governor Bii has consistently maintained that his administration’s arrangements are structured differently, his latest statement does not explain the safeguards introduced to prevent a repeat of the failures that left hundreds of families financially devastated.
Governor Calls for Alternative Justice
In his address, Bii announced that he had directed the county legal team to explore resolution through the Alternative Justice System (AJS), citing Article 159 of the Constitution.
He said he had also engaged religious leaders, elders and the County Assembly to support mediation efforts.
“I am committed to pursuing every lawful avenue that promotes the public interest and helps affected families obtain justice and closure,” the governor stated.
He appealed to all parties to participate in good faith to achieve “a fair, amicable and lasting resolution.”
Parents Still Waiting for Answers
Despite the governor’s promise of mediation, many affected parents argue that the fundamental questions remain unanswered.
Among them are:
- Who ultimately bears responsibility for the loss of more than Sh1 billion contributed by parents?
- What became of the funds collected under the overseas education programme?
- Will parents receive compensation despite the collapse of the criminal prosecution?
- Why did the county government not provide meaningful legal or financial support to affected families during the years the matter was before the courts?
- Why was the governor absent as a prosecution witness despite being required to testify?
- Why did the county seek court orders that delayed proceedings in cases filed by parents?
The acquittal of Mandago and his co-accused resolved the criminal charges but did not answer what happened to the parents’ money. In acquitting the accused, the Nakuru court held that prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a case requiring the accused persons to defend themselves. The ruling did not determine the question of civil liability or compensation for affected families.
For hundreds of parents, the legal battle may have ended in court, but the search for accountability—and recovery of their life savings—appears far from over.
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