Uasin Gishu Senator, Jackson Mandago, found himself in the spotlight as he appeared in court on Thursday at the Nakuru Chief Magistrate Court.
The reason for his appearance was his alleged involvement in the Uasin Gishu scholarship scandal that has recently captured public attention.
Standing alongside him in court were his co-defendants, Joshua Lelei and Mishack Rono. However, the third individual implicated in the case, Joseph Maritim, is currently abroad.
The trio is facing allegations of collusion to embezzle Ksh.1.1 billion from a Kenya Commercial Bank account located in Eldoret.
This account was registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund and was intended to support students with scholarships for their overseas university studies.
The Senator underwent questioning by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on the previous day before being transferred to the Central Police Station in Nakuru East. He spent the night there as part of the ongoing investigation.
The scholarship program, which was aimed at facilitating education opportunities for students in Finland and Canada, has caused considerable distress.
Numerous graduates and their families, frustrated by the situation, have taken to the streets to demand reimbursement from the county government. The scandal has ignited strong public outrage and led to protests within the Uasin Gishu region.
During his tenure as Governor, Mandago had overseen the initiation of this scholarship initiative. Consequently, he has provided a statement to assist the DCI with their inquiries.
Moreover, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) also questioned him regarding his role in the program.
