Former Uasin Gishu Governor and current Senator Jackson Mandago has been acquitted in the high-profile Sh1.1 billion overseas scholarship case after a Nakuru court ruled that the prosecution failed to present enough evidence to sustain the charges.
The decision brings to a close one of Kenya’s most closely watched cases, even as hundreds of affected families continue seeking compensation for money they paid into the controversial scholarship programme.
In its ruling, the court found that prosecutors had failed to establish a prima facie case against Mandago and his two co-accused, former county officials.
This means the prosecution did not produce sufficient evidence to show that the three intentionally misappropriated or fraudulently handled the funds collected under the scholarship programme. As a result, the magistrate ruled that there was no legal basis to require them to defend themselves, leading to their acquittal.
The court’s decision does not necessarily mean the scholarship programme was successful or that families did not suffer losses. Rather, it means the prosecution failed to prove the criminal charges beyond the threshold required at that stage of the trial.
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Jackson Mandago // Facebook
How the Scholarship Programme Turned Into a National Scandal
The overseas education initiative was launched by the Uasin Gishu County Government to help students secure placements in universities in Finland and Canada.
Between 2021 and 2023, more than 200 families paid millions of shillings in tuition fees, travel expenses, and other costs with the hope of sending their children abroad.
However, the programme soon ran into serious difficulties.
Some students never travelled despite making payments, while others who managed to reach Finland reportedly faced unexpected tuition demands and financial challenges that forced some to return to Kenya before completing their studies.
The unfolding crisis left many parents devastated after investing their life savings in what they believed was a legitimate county-backed programme.
Parents Still Waiting for Full Refunds
Although the county has refunded about Sh68 million, many affected families are yet to recover the money they paid.
Several parents have repeatedly appealed for government intervention, saying they continue to shoulder huge financial burdens years after the programme stalled.
For many families, the acquittal has raised fresh concerns over who will ultimately take responsibility for the losses.
Celebrations in Eldoret After the Verdict
The court’s decision was met with celebrations from Mandago’s supporters in Eldoret, who viewed the acquittal as proof that the senator had been wrongly accused.
Speaking after the ruling, Mandago maintained his innocence and called on the current Uasin Gishu County administration to compensate the affected families.
Jackson Mandago // Facebook
Mixed Reactions From Leaders
While Mandago welcomed the judgment, the verdict has drawn mixed reactions across the political divide.
Some leaders, including Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, have argued that the focus should now shift to ensuring affected parents receive justice and full compensation, noting that hundreds of families continue to bear the financial consequences of the failed programme.
Others insist that although the criminal case has ended, accountability for the losses suffered by parents remains an issue of public concern.
What Happens Next?
With the criminal case now concluded, attention is expected to turn to efforts aimed at compensating affected families and resolving the long-running scholarship dispute.
For many parents, the court’s ruling may have settled the legal case against the accused, but it has not erased the financial and emotional toll left behind by one of Kenya’s most controversial overseas education programmes.ere’s Why the Case Collapsed
Former Uasin Gishu Governor and current Senator Jackson Mandago has been acquitted in the high-profile Sh1.1 billion overseas scholarship case after a Nakuru court ruled that the prosecution failed to present enough evidence to sustain the charges.
The decision brings to a close one of Kenya’s most closely watched cases, even as hundreds of affected families continue seeking compensation for money they paid into the controversial scholarship programme.
