Parents and students affected by the Uasin Gishu Finland and Canada overseas education programme have appealed to the national government to intervene and help them rebuild their lives following the acquittal of former Uasin Gishu Governor and current Senator Jackson Mandago and his two co-accused in the Sh1.1 billion scholarship case.
The victims, who addressed the media in Eldoret a day after a Nakuru court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against the accused, said the judgment had dealt them a major blow after nearly four years of pursuing justice.
Speaking on behalf of the affected parents, Shadrack Juma said the ruling had left hundreds of families devastated despite assurances previously given by President William Ruto that parents who had sold property, borrowed money and made enormous sacrifices to educate their children abroad would receive justice.
“We are shocked by the court’s decision that the accused have no case to answer. We have waited for almost four years, yet our children remain at home with shattered dreams. Where is justice for these families?” he posed.
Juma said he personally paid Sh 1.27 million in August 2022 after securing a bank loan, believing his child would study in Finland under what was presented as a county government-sponsored programme.
“I am still servicing that loan while my child remains frustrated and depressed. We made huge sacrifices because we trusted the programme,” he said.
He questioned the whereabouts of the money, noting that more than 300 students were affected after parents collectively paid hundreds of millions of shillings into the programme.
Juma further revealed that some parents had filed separate claims before the Small Claims Court to recover part of their money but said the cases had experienced repeated adjournments without determination.
He urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to undertake fresh investigations into the movement of the funds and said the affected families would continue pursuing all available legal avenues until justice was achieved.
In an emotional appeal to President William Ruto, Juma urged the Head of State to intervene and help restore the students’ hopes.
“Mr. President, you are the symbol of national unity and understand the struggles of the people. Education is the greatest equaliser in society, yet these young people have had their dreams cut short. We are on our knees asking you to help these children access the education they were promised,” he appealed.
Another parent, Esther Kemboi, said families had exhausted their savings, taken loans and even disposed of property in the hope of securing better educational opportunities for their children abroad.
Kemboi said her daughter, who has since completed her studies at the University of Nairobi, remains emotionally affected after missing the opportunity to study in Canada despite the family paying about Sh 927,000 into the programme.
“When the President came to Eldoret, we were hopeful because he assured us these children would be helped. We are still praying that he listens to our plea and intervenes because many families are still struggling with the losses they incurred,” she said.
She appealed to the government to prioritise the affected students by either facilitating the education opportunities they were promised or helping families recover from the financial burden they continue to bear.
The victims also recounted the financial and emotional toll the failed programme has had on their lives.
Hope Kiprono, 24, said the collapse of the programme derailed both his academic and career aspirations just as he was completing his fourth year at university.
He said his brother and himself each paid Sh 650,000, amounting to Sh 1.3 million, in late 2022 after securing admission to pursue a Diploma in Hospitality at Stenberg College in Canada.
“After making the payments, we received no further communication regarding admission, visa processing or travel arrangements. While our peers have progressed with their lives, many of us remain stranded as we continue seeking justice,” he said.
Kiprono described the acquittal as heartbreaking, saying it was painful to present all the necessary documents and evidence before the court only for it to rule that there was no case to answer, leaving the victims feeling abandoned.
Also speaking, Asenath Okerio, 30, a registered clinical officer, said she paid Sh 750,000 in August 2022 after securing admission to pursue a Nursing degree at Thompson Rivers University in Canada.
She said her family sold ancestral land to raise the money after being assured that the county-managed programme would facilitate university admission, visa processing and travel.
“My family sacrificed everything because we believed in the programme. Today I have nothing to show for it. I appeal for an immediate refund so that I can start a business and support my family,” she said.
The affected parents and students announced that they would stage a demonstration at the Uasin Gishu County Government headquarters next Tuesday to demand immediate cash refunds for the money paid into the failed overseas education programme.
They criticised the Nakuru court’s decision to acquit Mandago and his co-accused, saying the ruling had denied them justice despite the financial, emotional and psychological hardship they had endured over the years.
The victims also called on Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii to take responsibility for resolving the matter, arguing that the programme was implemented by the county government and that the current administration should ensure the affected families are compensated or the students are facilitated to pursue the overseas education they were promised.
The victims maintained that although the criminal proceedings had been concluded, their pursuit of justice and compensation would continue through lawful means until all affected families receive redress.
By Fredrick Maritim and Becklyn Cherono
