Families protest in Eldoret demanding refunds after Mandago acquittal in Sh1 billion Finland scholarship case
Parents who protested Wednesday said they sold ancestral land, withdrew retirement savings and took bank loans to raise the money.
Photo: Courtesy.
Parents and students who lost millions of shillings in the Sh1 billion Uasin Gishu Finland education program staged protests in Eldoret on Wednesday, a day after a court acquitted former governor Jackson Mandago and two co-accused.
The demonstrators marched through the central business district carrying placards and chanting, demanding full refunds from the county government. They said the acquittal by a Nakuru court has left more than 350 families stranded with no studies abroad and no money returned.
Senior Principal Magistrate Alloyce Ndege on Tuesday dismissed all charges against Mandago, who now serves as Uasin Gishu senator, saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case. The court had heard testimony from 138 witnesses, most of them victims.
“I dismiss all charges against the accused persons and acquit them,” Ndege ruled.
The case stems from an overseas education program initiated during Mandago’s tenure as governor. Under the program, the county government collected funds from parents to facilitate university placements in Finland and Canada. Parents signed agreements and were promised that a one-time payment would cover tuition, accommodation, airfare and other costs.
According to court testimony, many families paid more than Sh1 million per student. Some students traveled, but many others did not, or were asked to pay additional fees after arriving abroad.
Parents who protested Wednesday said they sold ancestral land, withdrew retirement savings and took bank loans to raise the money.
“We paid our money to the county government, not to an individual. We want our money back,” said Shadrack Juma, who said he lost Sh1.2 million. “The court has made its decision but we will not tire until justice is done.”
The protesters said they will storm the county headquarters Tuesday if refunds are not made. They want Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration to take responsibility and account for the funds.
“The county government must refund us. Our children have lost four years at home. We have lost our livelihoods,” said a mother of two affected students.
The acquittal has sparked anger across Uasin Gishu and renewed calls for accountability. Families are now calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to open fresh investigations into how the money was used and on President William Ruto to intervene.
The county government has previously said some of the money was remitted to foreign universities and that efforts were underway to either place students or refund parents. Victims say those pledges have not been met.
Lawyers representing some families said they are shifting focus to civil litigation, including cases filed in small claims courts, to recover the funds.
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