The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has commenced investigations into allegations of fraud involving a scholarship program that was spearheaded by the Uasin Gishu County government.
DCI, on Friday, July 14, was concerned that some parents lost millions of money while seeking to send their children to study in Finland.
To motivate parents to support the program, the county reportedly promised to pay school fees for the students as the tutors covered other costs such as Visa processing.
Investigators were tasked with interviewing several officials from the county government and some students who were set to benefit from the controversial programme launched by former Governor and current Uasin Gishu senator, Jackson Mandago
"This follows numerous complaints by members of the public from Uasin Gishu County, who claimed to have been defrauded millions of shillings in a scholarship program to the Scandinavian country that failed to materialize.
"Sleuths from DCI Headquarters are expected in Uasin Gishu County between July 18-21, for a comprehensive probe," read part of the statement by DCI.
All aggrieved victims were asked to present themselves at the DCI County Headquarters in Eldoret on July 18 for statement recording and other investigative procedures.
They were also required to bring all the relevant documents to assist the detectives with the investigations.
The scandal came to light in early 2023 when parents of students who had been awarded scholarships to study in Finland complained that their children risked being deported after accruing tuition fees. Some students were forced to return to Kenya after the situation worsened.
Parents accused the county government of shortchanging and duping them into paying large sums of money to unscrupulous agents.
Reports alleged that senior county officials opened a bank account registered under the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust Scholarship, which was used to embezzle funds.
In July 2023, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii distanced himself from the scandal and apportioned blame on the past administration.
He, however, admitted that senior county officials allegedly colluded with rogue agents to fleece parents of millions of shillings in the fraudulent scholarship programme.
However, former Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago defended himself over allegations of impropriety and mismanagement of funds. He also stated that he was willing to record statements with investigative agencies to absolve himself of any allegations.
