Uasin Gishu, Governor Jonathan Bii has distanced himself from the Finland scholarship fee payment controversy, stating that former governor Jackson Mandago (now Uasin Gishu Senator) should come forward and explain what transpired.
Bii told the press in Eldoret town on Tuesday that his administration is merely dealing with the matter for the sake of parents and students who may have paid money but did not progress with their study overseas.
Bii stated that no one should include him in any new scam, and that those involved in stealing scholarship funds should bear their cross.
According to Bii, the initiative was overseen by the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust, not the county government. When he started office in August 2022, he found this discovery.
He stated that they have already asked EACC to look into the problem and are still waiting for their advice.
In December 2022, Bii organized a task committee chaired by his deputy John Barorot to investigate the problem and provide suggestions.
So far, the task force has determined that the Uasin Gishu foreign education trust was operating a KCB bank account that was used to receive payments for fees, housing, and airline charges for students enrolling in Finland and Canadian institutions.
Deputy Governor Barorot stated that the taskforce discovered that some students have no placement but have paid one semester tuition, claiming that 365 students have not paid their costs despite the fact that their fees and accommodation have been paid.
