Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has been acquitted of charges linking him to an alleged conspiracy to misappropriate Ksh1.1 billion meant for the county’s overseas scholarship programme.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, July 23, the High Court in Nakuru found that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the conspiracy charges against Mandago, bringing an end to a case that had lasted more than six years.
Mandago, who was serving as Uasin Gishu Governor when the scholarship programme was introduced, had been charged alongside other former county officials over allegations that funds meant to support students studying abroad were mismanaged.
The court ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not meet the legal threshold required for a conviction, leading to Mandago’s acquittal.
The overseas scholarship programme was established to support students from Uasin Gishu County seeking higher education opportunities in countries including Finland and Canada.
Under the programme, beneficiaries were required to contribute up to Ksh1 million each into a designated trust account to help facilitate their studies abroad.
The initiative later faced scrutiny in September 2021 after parents and students raised concerns over poor communication and uncertainty surrounding the progress of the programme.
Some students in Finland reportedly faced challenges, including eviction threats, after failing to settle tuition fees and accommodation costs. When families sought answers from the county government, they were informed that the scholarship fund had been exhausted and could no longer sustain the programme.
Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) later found that parents had contributed approximately Ksh957 million towards the scholarship scheme.
The commission reported that only Ksh257 million had been used for tuition payments and other student-related expenses, while the remaining Ksh700 million was allegedly misappropriated.
Following public anger and protests from affected families, Mandago and two former county officials were arrested in August 2023 and charged with conspiracy to commit theft, abuse of office and making false representations.
However, after reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
The decision effectively clears Mandago of the charges related to the scholarship programme, while the outcome of cases involving other accused persons will depend on further court proceedings.