President William Ruto's joint address with Finnish President Alexander Stubb during a state visit media engagement at State House, Nairobi, took a slightly awkward turn when the two leaders were asked to comment on the fate of hundreds of students who fell victim to a scheme involving Kenyan officials while applying for scholarships.
The standoff began when NMG's Steve Otieno rose to ask what the position of the Finnish government was on the matter that has been the subject of media headlines, with a majority of students at the centre of the scheme yet to access justice.
Stubb, while responding to the matter, instead gave a vague and noncommittal answer, stating, "Anytime there are delays in students entering Finland, I find that very unfortunate. Fortunately, we have many universities with very good programmes, and we hope that many of them will be attracted as well."
He avoided addressing the alleged involvement of Kenyan officials or providing clarity on whether affected students would receive support or redress.
President Ruto, on his end, also followed a similar path, only pointing out that the government was on the case.
According to Ruto, the government officials at the centre of the investigations are currently undergoing accountability mechanisms.
''It was a very unfortunate occurrence, and I am very happy to state that some of the officials involved in the fiasco are undergoing accountability mechanisms to ensure that whoever was responsible is held to account,'' Ruto stated.
The scholarship scandal left more than 300 students stranded after their parents lost approximately Ksh749 million in what was promised to be a lucrative educational scholarship in two foreign countries.
Under this scheme, the Uasin Gishu County government, under the former Governor Jackson Mandago, was to act as guarantors to students in an arrangement with foreign universities and a local company, whereby families paid into a trust fund account.
The scandal was exposed in September 2021 when a group of Kenyan students enrolled in universities in Finland since September 2021 faced expulsion from campuses and subsequent deportation.
On Sunday, parents and youth in Uasin Gishu County appealed for Charlene Ruto's help in raising funds to help victims of the Finland and Canada scholarship scandal get back to school.
Addressing the press on Sunday, May 11, the frustrated parents and youths invited the president's daughter to a fundraising event that has been slated for June 4, 2025. The groups are seeking to raise Ksh57 million for the victims of the scandal.
