Yet another batch of students depart for Finnish scholarship

The Uasin-Gishu county government has finally managed to secure scholarships for 31 students in Finland amid the claims of embezzlement of funds meant for the programme in the past.

The devolved unit has been on the spot for the mess which allegedly saw millions of shillings meant for students under the Finland Scholarship Programme embezzled by senior county officials.

County Executive in charge of Education Dr Janet Kosgei yesterday flagged of the students traveling to Finland where she reiterated governor Jonathan Bii’s administration desire to empower the youth.

 The students are part of the programme through which the devolved unit has been helping the youth travel abroad.

 Speaking during the event held at the county headquarters, Kosgei said the county is currently working on streamlining the program so as to address issues that had threatened to disrupt it.

Taskforce

 According to the official, the county government has already set up a task force headed by Deputy Governor John Barorot to address challenges which faced the programme in the past.

 “We thank the Governor for establishing the task force to salvage the programme after issues that almost led to it falling apart. We are committed to ensure that our children get quality education,” said Dr Kosgei, adding that more students are set to travel abroad.

 The 31 students have been allowed to travel to Finland to study physiotherapy after paying 70 per cent of their tuition fees and have already secured study visas, according to Dr Kosgei.

 “The programme has been successful so far. We are optimistic that parents will soon start enjoying the fruits. In the next five years there will be a transformation in the county – dependence ratio will go down and harambees will be few,” said Kosgei accompanied by Education Chief Officer Ruth Samoei.

Gender Chief Officer Eunice Suter, County Director of Education Shadrack Morogo, Deputy Director for Education Pius Mosbei, Finland Programme Coordinator Tonny Tanui among other County officials attended the event.

The Uasin-Gishu County Assembly ad-hoc committee which investigated the scholarship scam found out that three senior officers under former Governor Jackson Mandago’s administration were responsible for the mess as they made themselves signatories of the fund to enrich themselves and withdrew millions of shillings on diverse dates.

The first group of 202 students who went to Finland left Kenya between September 2021 and September 2022 with 111 going to Tampere University, Jvaskyla (25), while 66 went to Laurea University.

Raised money

 People Daily established in the arrangement, each parent of the students managed to raise Sh1.19 million as school fees for the county government to ensure that they are placed at universities in Finland.

 The parents also raised Sh100,000 (air ticket), three months accommodation (Sh80,000), insurance (Sh30,000), visa (Sh49,000) and Covid-19 certificate Sh5,000.

 However, three months later cracks have emerged in the programme with many students at risk of being deported back to the country after the devolved unit failed to channel the money into the various universities accounts as per the agreement with the parents.

 Documents in possession of People Daily indicate that fees for the second semester in other universities in Finland were due on March 31 while the due date for Tampere University has lapsed.  Among others, the assembly ad-hoc committee has recommended that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conduct a probe into forgery, abuse of office and integrity of county officers who served under Mandago’s administration.