DPP goes after Mandago's assets over Sh1.1b scholarship scandal

He said this was necessary in case they are ordered by the court or government to compensate the victims.

The application was made yesterday when Mandago and his co-accused denied 10 charges of conspiracy to steal, abuse of office and forgery in the Finland education programme saga.

The three were to take a plea alongside Joseph Maritim, former Chief Officer of Youth and Sports, but he is out of the country and the court had earlier declined to proceed with the trial unless all accused persons were present.

Lawyer Zephania Yego appeared in court on behalf of Maritim and said he travelled to Canada on June 13 on a visitor's Visa.

Yego said Maritim has not been summoned by DCI to record any statement and was not informed of any investigation against him.

"He has not been notified he is required in court and only learned of his indictment on social media and instructed me to appear," said the lawyer.

He added that he has advised the suspect to come back to Kenya and face his accusers and answer to charges leveled against him.

The lawyer earlier wanted the court to defer plea taking for his client to a date he will be available.

However, the prosecution successfully amended the charge sheet and withdrew Maritim's name to allow Mandago and the two officials to take plea.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago at Nakuru Police Station. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

"The two accused persons forged minutes of Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust purporting it to be a genuine document in 2021 at unknown places," read the 10th count.

Lawyers Stephen Kibungei and Boniface Oduor applied for the senator and his co-accused persons to be released on bail.

Oduor said the three were public officers and were willing to attend court, adding that there were no incentive for them to flee from the court's jurisdiction.

Mr Abdi did not object to their release on bail but urged the court to consider the seriousness and magnitude of the charges.

He applied for the court to bar the three from contacting or interfering with the 180 witnesses lined up. "The court should order the accused persons to physically attend court during mentions and hearing for the purposes of expediting the case," said Abdi.

Mr Ndege, noting that they were public officers, released Mandago and his co-accused on a bond of Sh2 million with a surety of a similar amount. They will alternatively pay a cash bail of Sh500,000.

He, however, cautioned them that if they fail to attend court, their bond terms will be cancelled. "The court should not hear any complaint from the victims and witnesses that they have been interfered with or contacted by the accused persons," he ruled.

He ordered the prosecution to supply the defence team with all documentary evidence, witness statements and charge sheet. The case will be mentioned on October 2.