THE GRAND PERFORMANCE: When Victims Need Justice But Politics Delivers Theatre
Finland/Canada Scholarship sacandal victim protesting. Photo: Courtesy.
By Kimutai Kirui,Human Right Activist
The latest turn in the Uasin Gishu Finland and Canada education scholarship saga is raising more questions than answers, with leaders now accused of turning victims’ pain into a political stage.
Kapseret MP Hon. Oscar Kipchumba Sudi has announced plans to organize a fundraiser for the affected families, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from a section of residents and observers who term it childish, juvenile and ill-thought-out.
If the objective is to genuinely assist the victims and uphold public interest, then the priority should be justice grounded in truth and accountability, not political spectacle.
The questions that matter are simple and have remained unanswered for months: Where did the money go? Who received it? Who bears responsibility?
What the victims need is not temporary interventions, public relations exercises or photo opportunities. They need a transparent process that establishes facts, restores confidence and delivers justice – not political gestures or convenient distractions.
Victims deserve refunds from the source responsible for their losses, not symbolic solutions wrapped in political goodwill.
The central question to Hon. Sudi is straightforward: Why focus on fundraisers instead of pursuing the truth, identifying responsibility and ensuring accountability?
Justice is not a charity drive. It is answers, accountability and restitution.
It is allegedly known in Eldoret political circles that Governor Jonathan Bii’s inner circle is in possession of part of the funds and that the money was used as part of campaign funds. These are claims that require thorough investigation, not a harambee.
Critics argue that Sudi had wanted the case dragged beyond 2027 for political expediency, but the verdict came too early, hence the need to open another war front – a harambee to condemn Senator Jackson Mandago and shield Governor Bii.
As facts and evidence dictate, Governor Bii can unlock this matter. Records indicate Senator Mandago left Kshs 108 million in the account when he left office. The question remains, who ate the money? Over 69 students travelled without paying a cent. Governor Bii must come out openly and explain.
This approach is less like a genuine pursuit of justice and more like a carefully staged political performance.
If the victims need Hon. Sudi to organize a fundraiser or to persuade Governor Bii and Senator Mandago to sit at a table and help recover their money, then why the demonstrations? Why the public drama? Why take to the streets when a delegation to his office or residence would supposedly achieve the same objective?
Have demonstrations now become the official language for requesting assistance? Since when did street protests replace dialogue? Demonstrations cannot be used to request assistance. If the goal is help, pursue help. If the goal is politics, then be honest about it.
Victims deserve justice – not political choreography. Their suffering should never be reduced to campaign material, political score-settling, or a proxy battle between Mandago, Sudi and Bii.
If Hon. Sudi truly wants justice for the victims, then political influence should be directed where it matters: demanding a thorough investigation, supporting access to justice, and ensuring that the truth comes out.
Who received what? Who authorized what? Who should answer? Those are the questions that matter.
Victims do not need another procession. They do not need another microphone. They do not need another photo opportunity. They need answers. They need accountability. They need their money back.
They don’t need Oscar Kipchumba Sudi. Not even the President. What they need is a due process that will unravel the truth.
The media in Eldoret must also separate political theatre from public interest. Journalism should interrogate power, not simply amplify political narratives.
The real story is not the demonstrations. It is not the speeches. It is not even a fundraiser. The real story is accountability.
A fundraiser may provide temporary relief, but it cannot uncover the truth. Only a comprehensive audit, an independent investigation and due process can establish what happened, identify responsibility and deliver justice.
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