Jonathan Bii, governor of Uasin Gishu, one in every of Kenya’s outstanding counties, is now going through authorized scrutiny over his alleged involvement within the controversial Uasin Gishu Finland/Canada Scholarship Program.
Bii, a member of the United Democratic Alliance, an affiliate of Kenya’s ruling coalition, is accused of supporting the scholarship scheme and requesting extra funds from college students.
As per media stories, he later distanced himself from the initiative amid allegations of misappropriation of over KSh 1.1 billion meant for scholarships.
Particular person accounts by mother and father of the scholars revealed that funds ranged from KSh 650,000 to over KSh 1.2 million (roughly USD$5,000–$9,230), with some households reportedly paying as much as KSh 3 million (round USD$23,100).
These quantities coated bills comparable to tuition, visa and insurance coverage charges, and lodging deposits.
Kenyan information outlet Every day Nation reported {that a} key witness, Mitchelle Jeptanui, testified earlier than senior principal Justice of the Peace Peter Ndege that in June 2023, Bii held a gathering with mother and father to guarantee them that the abroad journey would obtain approval shortly.
The mother and father, already anxious as their youngsters had obtained admission letters from universities in Canada and Finland, had been allegedly requested to pay a further KSh 200,000 to KSh 300,000 (roughly USD$1,540 to $2,310) for lodging charges.
Nonetheless, regardless of the funds, not one of the college students had been capable of journey overseas.
My son by no means travelled. I’m nonetheless hoping both for a refund or assist for him to go
Benjamin Kibet, guardian
When mother and father as soon as once more demanded solutions, Bii allegedly shifted the blame to his predecessor, Jackson Mandago, who initiated this system.
Nonetheless, testimony from seven out of eight witnesses final week confirmed they made their funds after Bii assumed workplace.
Benjamin Kibet, a guardian of one of many affected scholar, informed the courtroom that he took out a mortgage of KSh 650,000 (round USD$5,000) to fund his son’s schooling at Stenberg Faculty in Canada, after being launched to the programme by Mandago and Bii.
“My son by no means travelled. I’m nonetheless hoping both for a refund or assist for him to go,” Kibet informed reporters.
Because the case unfolds, Mandago, together with former county officers Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei, is anticipated to face felony expenses associated to the alleged misappropriation of the scholarship funds.
Over the previous two years, the scandal has shaken Kenya’s rising center class, who’ve aspirations for abroad schooling.
A 2020 survey had discovered that greater than half of Kenyan college students most popular finding out at worldwide universities over native establishments.
Furthermore, Kenya has been recognized as a “high-growth potential” supply market for worldwide schooling.
It ranked because the main East African marketplace for US universities, with enrolments rising by 45% in 2022 in comparison with 2019.
Canadian establishments, a key draw for lots of the college students who finally grew to become entangled within the scholarship scandal, additionally recorded a 12% rise in Kenyan scholar enrolments throughout the identical interval.
Kenyan mother and father have taken to the streets throughout Uasin Gishu County over the previous few years, demanding solutions, because the scandal has left over 300 college students stranded at house.
A lot of them have reportedly been expelled from Finnish universities or deported, as beforehand reported by The PIE Information.
