Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has directed the county’s legal team to explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms following the acquittal of Senator Jackson Mandago and his co-accused in the Finland education scholarship case.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bii said the county government respects the Nakuru court’s decision but remains committed to pursuing lawful options to help parents who lost money after their children failed to secure study opportunities in Finland.
He clarified that the Overseas Education Programme was not a County Government initiative and that parents’ contributions were never deposited into county government accounts.
However, Bii said the county has a moral obligation to help families affected by the failed programme because of its significant impact on residents.
He noted that the financial losses suffered by parents remain a major concern and require a lasting solution.
According to the governor, the matter first came before the Uasin Gishu County Assembly in 2022 after affected parents petitioned the House over the collapse of the scholarship programme.
The Assembly subsequently directed his office to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the issue. Chaired by the then Deputy Governor, the committee recommended that relevant state agencies conduct further investigations.
Although the court has cleared Mandago and the other accused persons, Bii said several issues remain unresolved, including what became of the students who missed the opportunity to study abroad, who received or managed the funds and whether any refunds have been made.
He said Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution recognises alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and reconciliation, and pledged to use those avenues to pursue justice for affected families.
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Bii revealed that he has instructed the county legal team to assess the possibility of resolving the dispute through the Alternative Justice System (AJS). He added that elders, religious leaders and the County Assembly leadership would also be involved in an effort to reach an inclusive and lasting settlement.
The governor assured affected parents and students that the county government would continue supporting lawful efforts aimed at ensuring accountability, transparency and justice, while urging all parties to engage in the mediation process in good faith.
The move follows a ruling by the Nakuru Law Courts acquitting Mandago and his co-accused after the court found that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against them.
Senior Principal Magistrate Alloyce Ndege ruled that while many witnesses were victims who believed a one-off payment would cover the full cost of education, the evidence presented was insufficient to sustain the charges.
Following the ruling, Mandago said the verdict would allow efforts to recover funds from beneficiaries who allegedly received support from the Trust using money intended for other students.
He claimed some beneficiaries had gone on to build homes, purchase vehicles and settle in Finland through the programme, and urged them to refund the money so that affected parents could be compensated.
