Uasin Gishu scholarship scandal: Parents, students threaten to return to the streets next week

Its back to the streets again as parents and students caught up in the Uasin Gishu overseas scholarship scam on Thursday threatened to resume demonstrations next week.

They say despite calling off the protests for a smooth devolution conference held in Eldoret, they are yet to get any commitment from the county government on when they will receive their money back.

Mary Kemei, a parent, said: “Bwana Gavana ulituambia twende tutulie devolution conference iishe tulikuheshimu tukafanya hivo, hakuna siku ulituita ukasema tukae chini tuone way forward. Kama mimi mwenyewe nilikupatia barua nikakuambia mtoto amepata barua, mlishika na Senator sijui mlishika mkaona ni barua ama nini, mtupe pesa zetu watoto waende shule.”

Another parent, Julius Rono, said: “Gavana Chelilim ulituita na kutudanganya danganya...ulituita na viongozi wetu ambao wanatuongoza ukatuchallenge halafu baada ya wiki mbili-tatu bado kupata majibu yoyote tunaumia, watoto wanaumia, na wewe unalala tu kwa nyumba ya gorofa.”

The affected students and parents say arresting Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two others last week is inconsequential, as all they are asking for is having their money back.

“Tumepambana sisi hatukuji kwa milango yenu kama viongozi kuwaomba, tumetumia nguvu zetu tumefanya kazi tukapata pesa, wengine wamekopa, tukauza property zetu watoto wasome mbona mnakatalia pesa zetu?” Posed Shadrack Juma, a parent.

One of the affected students, Janet Jerotich, said: “If we won't have our money by today, county government of Uasin Gishu, we are on the streets...tutalala kwa streets...we are searching for our money.”

The angry parents further threatened to collect signatures to petition the removal of the county leadership.

Shadrack Juma  added: “Ulimwengu wa sahii nyinyi kudanganya watoto kuwa mtawapeleka nje na kumbe mnawaibia...tunaomba mrudishe pesa zetu with immediate effect la sivyo tutaandamana mtaaibika dunia mzima.”

Wilson Taru, another parent, said: “Maandamano tukianza Monday hatutafanya town pekee, tutatafuta calendar yenu ukiwa Moiben tutakuwa pale ukiwa Ainabkoi tuko pale.”

Rights activist Mtai Kirui stated: “If they take us to court, we’re going to collect signatures to impeach Governor Bii and Senator Mandago.”

Senator Mandago appeared in court last week even as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) continues with investigations on who is responsible for the embezzlement of billions of shillings meant for the overseas scholarship programme.