Kenyan senator Jackson Mandago has been arrested, along with three others, on charges of embezzling $7.6 million intended for the education of Kenyan students.
Jackson Mandago and three others are facing eleven charges, including theft and abuse of office.
He has been accused of being part of a scheme that stole 1.1 billion Kenyan shillings ($7.6 million; £5.9 million) intended to pay for the education of Kenyan students in Finland and Canada.
According to reports in the local media, this has left dozens of students who had already paid to study abroad stuck in Kenya. After the county government stopped paying for students’ housing and tuition, those who had already enrolled at institutions face the possibility of homelessness, expulsion, and deportation.
The alleged crimes happened when Mr. Mandago assumed office as governor. Mr. Mandago has reportedly denied embezzling the funds in the past, as reported by the Star newspaper in Kenya. Apparently, he and the present governor of Uasin Gishu County came to an agreement to ensure that the victims would get their money back.
President William Ruto has also weighed in on the topic, warning that those guilty of the fraud involving the Finland and Canada Overseas Education Programme will be in “trouble” unless they return the stolen funds immediately. He promised local scholarship opportunities to anyone affected after investigations were completed.
