EACC on Spot for failing to arrest Senator Mandago over Sh50m corruption allegations

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago. [File, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is in a spot for not arresting Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago over corruption allegations amounting to Sh50 million.

The money is about the education program scandal involving Finland and Canada.

It has emerged that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga recommended fresh charges of graft against Senator Mandago and several individuals in the county.

On September 24, 2024, Ingonga wrote to the EACC, approving the new charges.

The fresh graft charges, according to Ingonga, will also include the arrest of additional suspects.

“I direct that the suspects be arrested and arraigned for plea-taking. This has been occasioned by the fact that the DCI has abandoned the case that was filed in Nakuru. Kindly liaise with the Regional Head, Rift Valley Region for drafting of the charges,” stated Ingonga's letter to EACC boss Twalib Mbarak.

The DPP's directive has raised concerns about the EACC's commitment to pursuing justice, as no charges have yet been filed against the suspects despite the seriousness of the allegations.

Ingonga’s action followed the DCI’s withdrawal of the Sh1.1 billion Finland and Canada education program case against Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two county officials, Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei, that were before Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege.

A letter from the DCI dated September 19, 2024, seen by The Standard, urged the DPP to withdraw the case.

Deputy Director of Investigations Paul Wachira indicated that the DCI sought to dismiss charges against Mandago, Rono, and Lelei, citing incomplete investigations at the time the case was filed in court.

Wachira noted that the DCI had not yet established the number of students admitted to Finland’s universities, including Tampere, Laurea, Jyvaskylla, Gradia Consortium College, Metropolia, and LUT, nor the academic fees and incidental costs incurred by each student.

“We did not know the number of visas processed at the Embassy of Finland and High Commission of Canada for students who were to travel and the associated fees,” he wrote. He also mentioned the difficulty in obtaining original documents collected by the EACC, which hindered the DCI's investigation.

Additionally, the DCI highlighted the significance of the Pathways Studies program introduced by Finnish universities, which became relevant during hearings.

They needed clarification on various aspects, such as the program's introduction, costs, and student participation.

The DCI also accused the trial court of bias, claiming that it issued warrants of arrest against Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and other officials before following proper legal procedures for issuing summons.