Governor Bii's name dragged into Sh1.1b overseas education scandal

Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii before the Senate County Public Investments Committee on April 15, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and his administration have been dragged into the Sh1.1 billion Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Fund scandal case. Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, Meshack Rono, and Joshua Lelei are charged with misusing Sh1.1 billion, meant to educate over 180 students in Finland. Parents who testified yesterday said they made payments for their students during Mandago's time as governor, and after Bii's administration took over office in August 2022. During cross-examination, David Saina, a teacher, said that he paid Sh1.072 million for his son Evans Koech to go to Finland when Bii was in office. Saina and two other parents testified before Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege. "On September 21, 2022, I deposited Sh200,000 in my son's name under the overseas account. I deposited Sh200,000 on October 7, 2022, and Sh100,000 on October 12, 2022," testified Saina. He added that on October 24, 2022, he deposited Sh450,000, and on January 16, 2023, he paid Sh122,000. Saina said he blamed Mandago, who started the overseas education programme, and Bii, who took over the programme once he assumed office. "Bii is also a conman, the same as Mandago and the other two accused persons. I came to court to demand my refund," he testified. Defence lawyers Stephen Kibungei, Elijah Kibet, and Fidel Limo reminded Saina that he paid all the money after Mandago left office and urged him to retract claims that he (Mandago) was a conman. Saina said he wrote a letter requesting a refund on March 6, 2023. The programme later collapsed under Bii's reign. The court heard that before Mandago left office, 335 students travelled to Finland, while 65 students travelled to Canada. "My son did not receive any acceptance letter. The county government did not pay the fees. My son is in Kenya and has never been to Finland," he testified. Mr Kibungei asked, "Does Mandago own the county? Did you pay money directly to his account number?" Saina replied, "No, I paid the money to the county government under the new leadership. I am claiming Sh1 million." He also pointed out that Rono and Lelei were still in office. Michael Kiplangat, a retired teacher, said he paid Sh1.013 million under the previous and new county government leadership to facilitate his son's education in Finland. He said he paid Sh400,000 on May 12, 2022, Sh300,000 on May 13, 2022, Sh100,000 on May 17, 2022, when Mandago was in office. He paid a further Sh213,000 on November 22, 2022, after Bii took over. "My claim is against the former governor Mandago and the current governor Bii," testified Kiplangat. Kiplangat said that in 2023, he realised that Sh541,000 more was allegedly required for the Pathway Course done in 2022. He testified that they were not informed of this before. Kiplangat said that when he googled the Pathway Fees, he discovered that it only required him to pay at most Sh50,000. He, however, failed to produce proof when asked by Limo. He said the programme run smoothly until 2023 when he and his children sensed something was fishy, and they decided to withdraw from the programme and demand a refund. Kimorna Koech, a Kenya Defence Force personnel, said he paid Sh1.184 million for his daughter Winnie Jeruto between May 20, 2022 and March 8, 2023. He testified that the programme ran smoothly, but in 2023, things did not seem right after the county government asked for more money. The case continues today with five more witnesses set to testify.

Governor Bii's name dragged into Sh1.1b overseas education scandal

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