Court Testimonies Link Governor Bii to Sh1.1 Billion Finland and Canada Education Scandal

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii is facing intensifying scrutiny as court proceedings reveal his alleged involvement in the failed Finland and Canada Overseas Education Programme. 

Testimonies presented at the Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Court, presided over by Peter Ndege, this past Friday, suggest Bii initially supported the program before subsequently shifting blame to his predecessor, Senator Jackson Mandago, for its ultimate failure. The hearings have centered on a lawsuit alleging misappropriation of Sh1.1 billion designated for the initiative, leaving hundreds of families financially devastated. The case has placed Senator Mandago and two former county officials, Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei, at the forefront of the accusations.

Evidence presented includes claims that Governor Bii, after assuming office, reassured parents about the program's stability and urged them to make further payments, even as the scheme was demonstrably faltering. Victims testifying before the court shared experiences of lost savings and dashed educational aspirations, alleging a breach of trust by the current governor.

Ms. Mitchelle Jeptanui, one of the victims, testified that in June 2023, Bii convened a meeting to address growing parental concerns regarding delayed student departures. She claims he requested payments ranging from Sh200,000 to Sh300,000 for accommodation, reinforcing the belief that the program was still viable. Despite these assurances, no students traveled abroad, and Bii later reportedly disavowed the program, deferring responsibility to Senator Mandago.

Jeptanui recounted another gathering where Bii purportedly invited Mandago to explain the situation, stating he "did not understand the programme well." Corroborating her testimony were other affected parents, Ms. Irene Chepchirchir and Mr. Joseph Kiplimo, who collectively lost more than Sh3 million. Kiplimo stated he overpaid by Sh20,000 hoping to expedite his son's admission to Laurea University in Finland, efforts which ultimately proved fruitless.

Mr. Benjamin Kibet offered a particularly harrowing account of financial ruin incurred while pursuing his son's education. He secured a Sh650,000 loan to fund his son's enrollment at Stenberg College in Canada, encouraged by both Mandago and Bii. He testified that he learned of the program at a funeral, where Senator Mandago encouraged him to enroll. 

Following this lead, Kibet contacted Joshua Lelei, who guided him through the application process. Despite meeting all financial obligations, his son was never able to begin his studies abroad. Kibet said he remains hopeful that Mandago will facilitate his son's travel or provide financial compensation, asserting his belief in Mandago's good intentions for the program. However, under cross-examination, Kibet conceded he made payments after Mandago left office, intensifying scrutiny of the current administration's role in the escalating financial losses.

Ms. Asenath Okello testified that she a joint meeting convened by Bii and Mandago. She said that the senator pledged to compensate the affected families, even suggesting he would sell his own land to raise the necessary funds.

"The senator assured us we would be refunded and stated that he was prepared to sell his land if necessary," she recalled, having paid Sh650,000 initially in November 2022 and an additional Sh122,000 in January 2023. 

Okello requested a refund from the county government in July of 2023, as the programme's failure became clear. As of this week, 90 out of the 202 witnesses slated to testify have already presented their accounts to the court, gradually unveiling the alleged financial exploitation. While Governor Bii maintains that the program was conceived and mismanaged entirely under Senator Mandago's leadership, the growing evidence indicates continued activity and financial transactions well into his own tenure.