How Finland scholarship funds were spent on furniture, perks

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, Joshua Lelei and Meshack Rono at Nakuru Law Court on July 22, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

A witness has told a Nakuru court how Sh520,000 was withdrawn from the controversial Finland scholarship funds to purchase expensive furniture.

Joel Ruto, the former Director Education Revolving Fund in Uasin Gishu County, said part of the Sh1.1 billion raised by parents to take their children to study in Finland was withdrawn to purchase office furniture.

Ruto was testifying in a case where Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two other Uasin Gishu County officials are charged with the Sh1.1 billion Finland Education Programme Scandal.

Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei face charges of conspiracy to steal, stealing and abuse of office leading to the misappropriation of funds.

Yesterday, Ruto admitted before Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege that Sh400,000 was withdrawn from the account on August 3, 2022 to buy furniture.

“Did the money come from the account where parents were depositing the money for their children to go to Finland?” asked prosecutor Angeline Chinga.

“Yes, the money was withdrawn from KCB’s Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust Account, I requested for the money to buy furniture for storage of important documents on the programme,” Ruto admitted.

He added that Sh120,000 was withdrawn from the account on October 3, 2022, to cater for the allowances of the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Fund Trustees following a meeting held on the same date. He said he paid the six trustees between Sh8,000 and Sh36,000 each, with Dr Joel Chelule the chair of the alleged trustee receiving the latter amount. “The money covered travel allowances because the trustees came from Eldoret, Nairobi, Kakamega, among other counties,” he testified.

He stated that he, being the alleged secretary of the trustees requested the money from the Principal Trustee Joseph Maritim, who signed a cheque

Ruto said the programme initiated in 2020, was meant for parents from a humble background. He told the court that committees were formed to identify needy students.

In cross-examination by defence lawyers Stephen Kibungei, Fidel Limo, Elijah Kibet and Miller Bwire, Ruto said the lack of budget for the programme necessitated the withdrawal of the fund

“Can you confirm to the court that a component of the money deposited had to go to administration work, including the allowances for the added portfolio?” asked Bwire.

“Yes, we had no independent funding for the secretariat or the trustees,” answered Ruto.

Ruto also testified that not all parents had paid fees for their children and they were forced to divert money for other students to cater for the first batch of students in Finland.

He testified that the first batch of students were on the verge of being dismissed from Tampere University and the county government was left with no choice but to divert the money.