DPP allows EACC to arrest Senator Mandago over Ksh.1.1B Uasin Gishu scholarship scam

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago will face charges of corruption and embezzlement of funds in the Finland scholarship saga.

This is after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved the inquiry file forwarded by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for Mandago and three other senior officials of the county to be prosecuted.

The former Uasin Gishu Governor, now Senator, will be charged for among other charges; conspiracy to commit an offense of economic crime, abuse of office, breach of trust, fraudulent acquisition of public property and uttering a false document contrary to Section 353 of the Penal Code.

Mandago and 4 other co-accused persons; Joseph Maritim, Joshua Lelei, Meshack Rono and Jacob Sisey, the Director of Skill Dove Ltd, allegedly embezzled Ksh.1.1 billion meant to fly out more than 125 students for higher education to Canada and Finland.

“We have recommended him to be charged and have received the go-ahead from DPP because we found something about him,” EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said.

EACC has been investigating the Ksh1.1 billion scholarship programme founded by the Uasin Gishu County government during Mandago’s era.

In the quarterly report published by the anti-graft body, the Finland scholarship saga is among the list of 39 cases listed as having been investigated by the EACC; 8 have been approved for prosecution out of 43 forwarded by the commission.

Investigations by EACC reveal that Ksh.284.4 million was paid to universities in Finland and Canada, Ksh.315.9 million paid to foreign agencies, and Ksh.50.7 million paid to local agencies. Another Ksh.308.9 million and Ksh.74.2 million was however withdrawn in cash. 

Investigations also revealed that Chief Officer for Youth Affairs Gender and Sports Joseph Maritim, as well as Deputy Director, County Education Revolving Funds Meshak Rono, Joshua Lelei and Jacob Sisey, conspired to swindle the funds as the money they withdrew was not put to the intended use.

EACC is now seeking the arrest of Mandago and the 4 county officers to face charges. In August this year, Mandago was arrested and arraigned at the Nakuru Chief Magistrate Court in connection with the scholarship scam.