EACC: Probe into overseas studies scam almost done

EACC North Rift Regional Manager Charles Rasugu (left). He said investigations into the scholarship saga have been complex. [Kevin Tunoi, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is about to complete its investigations into the controversial Uasin Gishu overseas study programme.

EACC North Rift Regional Manager, Charles Rasugu, said the investigations, which began in March, have been complex.

“We are not late, we have actually muscled our efforts and put together a team that is working day and night. The investigations also involve student fees which were paid to Canadian and Finnish universities. It is not easy to investigate the flow of these monies within a short period,” he said.

Speaking to the affected parents and students who took their demonstrations to the EACC offices in Eldoret, the manager said the agency was aware of the public interest and was “at the tail end of the probe and will in the coming weeks submit the resultant file to the Director of Public Prosecutions with appropriate recommendations.”

The parents accused the commission of doing little to unravel the matter.

“While the EACC continues with their investigations for months, our lives are stagnant because we have no money to join schools here in the country after our parents spent all they had on the failed program. For how long are we supposed to sit and wait for the investigations to be complete?” said Janet Jerotich, one of the students.

The victims warned that they would continue demonstrating until they got their money back.

“We ask you not to be intimidated in your job. Please do your job without any influence by the political class so that we can get justice,” said Mercy Tarus. The parents have also questioned how the three suspended county officials are still running the trust account, which the leadership recently stated that it has only Sh1.8 million.

“It is evident that the suspended officials cannot be trusted with our money,” said a student.