Shocking Details of How a Witness Was Overpaid in Mandago’s Sh1.1B Fraud Case
In a stunning revelation during the ongoing Sh1.1 billion Canada and Finland education programme scandal trial, a prosecution witness, Ayabeyi, admitted to receiving more than the amount he initially paid into the controversial Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Fund. The case, which has gripped the nation, involves Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two county officials, Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei, who face charges of conspiracy, theft, abuse of office, and forgery. The trio is accused of embezzling funds deposited by parents into a county trust fund account between March 1, 2021, and September 12, 2022.
Ayabeyi, a retired civil servant, took the stand to testify against Mandago and his co-accused in the Nakuru court. He revealed that he had paid Sh1.07 million for his daughter, Purity Jerop, to pursue a nursing course at Sternberg College in Canada. The payments were made between October 24, 2022, and March 3, 2023, with an expectation that she would depart for Canada in April 2023. Acceptance letters from the college were issued on February 11, 2023, raising hopes for the family. However, when questioned about the specifics of his grievance against the accused, Ayabeyi struggled to provide clarity, casting doubt on the strength of his testimony.
The court was left in disbelief when Ayabeyi initially denied receiving any refund for the fees he had paid. It was only after being confronted with documentary evidence that he admitted to not only being fully refunded but also receiving an additional sum. While he did not disclose the exact amount, Ayabeyi confirmed that the refund exceeded Sh1.2 million—more than the Sh1.07 million he had originally paid. This admission has raised serious questions about the management of the trust fund and the integrity of the refund process.
The case centers on allegations that Mandago, Rono, and Lelei conspired to siphon off Sh1.1 billion from a Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) account in Eldoret, registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund. The funds were meant to facilitate overseas education for students from Uasin Gishu County, with parents depositing money in good faith for their children’s future. Instead, the prosecution alleges that the accused engaged in a scheme involving theft, forgery, and abuse of office.
Mandago, who was the Uasin Gishu governor at the time, faces additional charges of abusing his authority by entering into memoranda of understanding with universities in Finland and Canada without approval from the county assembly. Rono and Lelei are specifically accused of stealing Sh56.5 million from the KCB Eldoret Branch between June 2021 and September 12, 2022. The scale of the alleged fraud has sparked outrage, with 202 witnesses lined up to testify against the accused.
The Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Fund was promoted as a transformative initiative to provide scholarships for students to study abroad. However, the programme has been mired in controversy, with parents alleging they were misled about the nature of the scholarships. Testimonies, such as that of another witness, Cheruiyot, revealed that many believed they were applying for fully funded scholarships, only to later learn they had to pay substantial fees. Cheruiyot, a former nursing student, recounted seeing an advertisement for the programme on the county’s social media handle in September 2021, which prompted him to apply. The application and interview process alone cost him Sh10,000, adding to the financial burden on families.
Further complicating the case, Joel Chelule, who chairs the Uasin Gishu County Education Revolving Fund, distanced himself from the overseas education fund trustee, calling its formation “incomplete, improper, and unprocedural.” Chelule testified that no appointment letters or management meetings were held to validate the trustee’s operations, and critical documents, such as bank statements, were never provided despite requests. His testimony has fueled suspicions of mismanagement and lack of accountability within the programme.
In a surprising twist, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recommended withdrawing the current case against Mandago, Rono, and Lelei in October 2024, citing incomplete investigations. The DCI proposed replacing the case with new charges backed by evidence from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which reportedly traced Sh284.4 million paid to universities in Finland and Canada, Sh315.9 million to foreign agencies, and Sh50.7 million to local agencies. Additionally, Sh308.9 million and Sh74.2 million were withdrawn in cash, raising further red flags. The EACC’s probe has led to plans to charge Mandago and seven others with 19 counts, including conspiracy to commit economic crimes and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
Mandago, Rono, Lelei, and a fourth individual, Jacob Sisey, have challenged these looming fresh charges in the High Court in Nairobi, arguing that facing simultaneous trials over the same facts violates their rights to a fair hearing. Their legal battle underscores the complexity and high stakes of the case, which continues to unfold with significant public interest.
The admission by Ayabeyi that he received an overpayment has added a new layer of intrigue to an already convoluted case. As the trial progresses, with the next hearing scheduled for December 2, 2024, Kenyans are watching closely to see whether justice will be served for the parents and students who placed their trust in the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Fund. The case not only highlights alleged corruption but also exposes the vulnerabilities of families who sacrificed savings, and in some cases sold land, to secure a better future for their children.
The shocking details emerging from the courtroom serve as a stark reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in public initiatives. For now, the nation awaits further testimony from the remaining witnesses and the outcome of the legal maneuvers that could reshape the course of this high-profile scandal.