Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi weighed into the ongoing debate over the Findland Scholarship saga and pushed for Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago to compensate families who lost money in the flopped programme.
Speaking in his constituency during the launch of CDF classrooms on Friday, Sudi warned that he will not defend his Kenya Kwanza colleague, revealing that he also lost close to Ksh 10 million through donations to students who were seeking to further their studies in Finland.
He expressed pain over the agony many parents were going through, given that most of them were still struggling to make ends meet.
"Mandago pia auze shamba yake. Wawache kutudanganya na walipee pesa ya wenyewe. Let Mandago also sell his land. They should stop telling us stories and pay back the money. These (accused persons) are not poor people," he stated.
"I also participated in the Finland contributions to the tune of Ksh10 million. Even if the matter is in court, that money has to be repaid."
Sudi added the families could only get justice if the money was returned despite the ongoing court case where Mandago and three others were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
According to Sudi, the money was intentionally misappropriated months before the electioneering period.
"People have sold their land, others have also taken loans, and then some people misuse the money and want us to defend them. That is not possible.
"The only way to fill a hole is by digging up soil and placing it in the hole. If you have a debt, then you must repay it," the MP stated.
Meanwhile, Mandago, the former governor, has maintained his innocence in the matter. He has also indicated his willingness to work with the affected families on ways to secure their refund.
"I wish to reiterate that as a law-abiding citizen, I am available to present myself to any station once summoned. I have met with the leadership of parents demanding refunds and agreed on the way forward as per their press statement issued last evening," the Senator stated on August 16
Mandago was apprehended on August 16 and charged the following day at the Nakuru Law Courts over the alleged loss of funds in the over Ksh1 billion scholarship kitty.
He was then released on Ksh500,000 cash bail and has yet to take a plea, scheduled once a fourth accused person, reportedly in Canada, returns from abroad.
President William Ruto and opposition leader Minister Raila Odinga condemned Mandago, with the former warning that all accused persons found liable of embezzling nearly Ksh1 billion from the funds would carry their own cross.
