Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago grilled by EACC over Finland education saga

Senate Health Committee Chairman Jackson Mandago on Monday, July 31, 2023. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Former Uasin Gishu Governor and current Senator Jackson Mandago spent a better part of his day at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices.

Mandago appeared before EACC investigators at their headquarters to shed light on the controversial Finland education saga that he presided over when he was governor.

At around 5 pm, Mandago emerged from the Integrity Center offices and briefed the media.

In his address, he blamed politicians from his home county for politicizing the project which he insisted was a major success.

The Senator said no money had been embezzled as claimed by a section of parents in Uasin Gishu adding that he will make sure that all parents get a refund of their money.

According to Mandago, the EACC demanded an explanation of how Sh96 million had been used to sponsor students abroad.

"Let's divorce politics and the programmed. We are going to ensure that the parents get their money," he told journalists.

Earlier in the week, Uasin Gishu County leaders blamed some parents whose children are studying in Finland and Canada for the troubles facing the county's overseas study programme.

Governor Jonathan Bii, his deputy John Barorot and Mandago, who were flanked by a host of leaders, claimed that about 322 parents were sabotaging the airlift programme by failing to settle arrears that they have incurred.

The leaders said Sh96.6 million was spent from the Uasin Gishu County Overseas Trust account to offset fee arrears for the students whose classes had been cancelled and were facing deportation.

They asked the parents to return the money to the Trust account to refund those who have been protesting, demanding a refund of millions they spent on the botched airlift programme.