Bii: Don’t lose hope after Finland saga

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has urged parents whose children are studying overseas not to withdraw them after a Kenyan student committed suicide in Finland.

Rodgers Kipruto, 26, is said to have taken his life, citing frustrations due to the standoff between the county government and parents on modalities of settling fee arrears to enable him to continue with his studies.

But Governor Bii yesterday said Kipruto’s was an isolated case, noting that there a lot of opportunities for Kenyan students in foreign countries.

“As we speak, many students are already sending money home after they secured employment as they continue with their studies. All of us know that we have a lot of challenges as a country including unemployment and we should explore other opportunities for our children abroad,” he said.

Speaking at local vernacular radio station yesterday, Bii defended his predecessor Jackson Mandago, whose administration has come under fire for the saga being witnessed in the scholarship programme, which has seen many students risk being deported due to non-payment of fees.