Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has been acquitted of charges linking him to the alleged misappropriation of Ksh1.1 billion under the county's overseas scholarship programme, bringing to a close one of Kenya's most closely watched corruption cases.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, July 23, the High Court in Nakuru found that the prosecution had failed to prove the conspiracy charges against the senator, leading to his acquittal after years of legal proceedings.
Mandago, who served as Uasin Gishu governor when the scholarship programme was launched, had been charged alongside former county officials over the management of funds collected from parents whose children were set to study abroad.
Court Finds Prosecution Failed to Prove Case ¶
The High Court held that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not satisfy the legal threshold required to sustain a conviction.
As a result, Mandago was cleared of the conspiracy charges that had hung over him since investigations into the controversial scholarship programme began.
The decision effectively ends a case that has attracted national attention since parents and students first raised concerns over the programme's management.
Scholarship Programme Sparked National Outcry ¶
The overseas scholarship initiative was established to facilitate students from Uasin Gishu County to pursue higher education in countries including Finland and Canada.
Parents were required to contribute up to Ksh1 million per student into a designated trust account to finance tuition and other education expenses.
However, the programme came under intense scrutiny in September 2021 after several students reportedly became stranded in Finland, with some facing eviction after tuition and accommodation fees went unpaid.
Parents later claimed they had received little communication from county officials despite making substantial financial contributions.
Investigations Triggered Criminal Charges ¶
Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) established that parents had contributed approximately Ksh957 million towards the scholarship programme.
According to investigators, only about Ksh257 million had been used to pay tuition fees and other student-related expenses, while the remaining funds were alleged to have been misappropriated.
The findings prompted widespread public outrage, culminating in the arrest of Mandago and two former county officials in August 2023.
The trio faced charges including conspiracy to commit theft, abuse of office and making false representations.
Following years of court proceedings, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish the case against Mandago to the required criminal standard, resulting in his acquittal.
