Mandago offered to sell land to refund Sh1.1b education scam victims, court told

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago allegedly offered to sell his land in order to compensate victims of the Sh1.1 billion Finland and Canada education programme scandal.

Asenath Okello, a witness in the case, on Thursday told Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege that at some point, when the programme faced challenges, Mandago—who initiated it—together with current Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, convened a meeting with the victims.

"The two leaders addressed us, and Mandago promised that our money would be refunded," she said.

“The senator went further to say that, if need be, he would offer his land for sale in order to refund the victims,” she testified.

Okello was testifying in a case where Mandago and Uasin Gishu County officials Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei are charged with misappropriation of the funds.

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She admitted, however, that she did not pay fees for the overseas programme during Mandago’s tenure as governor.

She testified that she made her first fee deposit of Sh650,000 to the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust Fund account on 1 November 2022.

“I received an offer letter on 28 November 2022. Although I wanted to pursue a degree in Nursing, I received a letter offering me a place to study for a Bachelor of Arts. On 17 January 2023, I paid a further Sh122,000,” she testified.

Okello said the programme slowed down, and they lost faith in it. On 10 July 2023, she wrote a refund request letter.

Benjamin Kibet, another witness, testified that he had worked with Mandago at the Teachers Service Commission. During a funeral service, Mandago approached him about the overseas programme.

“He told me the programme would cost around Sh1.3 million, and my son Allan Kimutai was interested in doing an engineering course. I was referred to Lelei,” he testified.

Kibet said that on 28 October 2022, he took a loan of Sh650,000 to facilitate his son’s studies at Stenberg College in Canada, but the plan did not materialise.

“If Mandago agrees to pay what he owes us, I will be satisfied. I know him, and I believed the programme was genuine because he wanted to help residents advance their education,” he said.

He added that the senator had the option of either refunding the money or taking his son to Canada.

Kibet insisted that the programme encountered serious challenges and that Mandago, having initiated it, should be held accountable.

During cross-examination, Kibet acknowledged that he did not pay the fees when Mandago was governor, nor did he deposit the money into Mandago’s personal account.

Lawyer Stephen Kibungei also cross-examined him on why he was seeking a refund of Sh1.5 million despite only paying Sh650,000.

“I want the fees I paid plus the accrued interest of 10 percent per month,” he responded.

Former county administrator Elkana Cheruiyot testified that he lost trust in the programme even before it started.

Cheruiyot, who testified as witness number 81, said he was part of the team that sensitised residents to apply for the programme. His son, Elvis Kipkosgei, expressed interest and was accepted.

“I paid Sh950,000 on 3 November 2022 and another Sh122,000 on 7 November 2022. My son received an acceptance letter from Thompson Rivers University in Canada,” he said.

However, he testified that delays and the politics surrounding the programme prompted him to withdraw two days before it was set to begin, on 26 February 2023.

He wrote a refund letter on 24 February 2023 after receiving an email from the university indicating that the full fees had not been paid.

In cross-examination by lawyers Stephen Kibungei, Fidel Limo, and Elijah Kibet, Cheruiyot admitted that he did not have the emails to support his claims.

He also confirmed that although he made the payments during Governor Bii’s administration, he did not mention the governor in his statement.