- Governor Jonathan Bii says the county will pursue mediation following the recent court ruling.
- He says key questions remain over parents’ contributions, management of the funds and possible refunds.
- The county has engaged elders, religious leaders and Assembly leadership to facilitate the mediation process.
The Uasin Gishu County Government has announced plans to pursue an Alternative Justice System (AJS) to help resolve the long-running Overseas Education Programme dispute following a recent court ruling on the controversial Finland scholarship saga.
In a statement released on Monday, Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim said the county respects the ruling delivered by the Nakuru Law Courts and remains committed to upholding the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary.
The governor, however, clarified that the Overseas Education Programme was not a county government initiative and maintained that funds contributed by parents were never deposited into county government accounts.
Despite this position, Bii acknowledged the financial losses suffered by affected families and said the county has a moral and leadership responsibility to support efforts aimed at finding a lawful and lasting solution.
“The financial losses suffered by parents who sought overseas educational opportunities for their children remain a matter of great concern,” the governor said.
Questions over parents’ funds
He recalled that in 2022, the Uasin Gishu County Assembly received a petition from parents whose children had failed to secure admission in Finland despite making payments.
The Assembly subsequently directed the governor’s office to establish an ad hoc committee, chaired by the then Deputy Governor, to investigate the matter and recommend further action by relevant government agencies.
While welcoming the court’s decision, Bii said several key questions remain unanswered, including the fate of the money contributed by parents, those responsible for managing the funds and whether any refunds have been made and through which accounts.
The governor said these concerns deserve transparent answers and pledged to pursue alternative dispute resolution mechanisms provided for under Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution.
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He directed the county legal team to explore resolving the matter through the Alternative Justice System and said respected elders, religious leaders and the County Assembly leadership had been engaged to facilitate an inclusive mediation process.
Bii appealed to all parties involved to participate in the mediation process in good faith, expressing confidence that it would help deliver accountability, transparency and justice for affected parents and students while bringing the matter to a dignified conclusion.
By Adrian Biwott
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