NAIROBI, Kenya
A Kenyan senator was on Thursday arraigned in court for alleged embezzlement and abuse of power in connection with a fraudulent scholarship program linked to Finland and Canada.
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago is among four individuals arrested on Wednesday and presented in court on Thursday as authorities crack down on the scandal.
Approximately 1.1 billion Kenyan shillings (equivalent to $7.6 million USD) were reportedly collected from parents who believed their investments would secure their children’s futures.
The scandal centers on a scheme that promised Kenyan students admission to universities in Finland and Canada in exchange for hefty payments.
However, investigations according to authorities reveal that the program never materialized, leaving parents in distress and their hard-earned money wasted.
The other officials implicated in the case are Joseph Kipkemoi Maritim, Meshak Rono, and Joshua Kipkemoi Lelei.
The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Program, which was touted as a golden opportunity for Kenyan students to pursue higher education abroad.
Police say investigations into the matter have unveiled a web of deceit and misappropriation of funds.
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago was released on Thursday after posting a bond of Sh2 million (approximately $13,900 USD) to a court in Nakuru county located 160 kilometers (about 99 miles) by road northwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The Nakuru court said that the legal process will now determine the fate of those implicated in the scandal, as Kenyan authorities strive to hold accountable those responsible for the betrayal of trust, corruption, and financial misconduct.
The four accused have all faced questioning from both the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
