The Ksh1.1 billion Finland Education Scholarship scandal case has resumed at the Nakuru Law Courts, with the prosecution calling its 137th witness as hearings continued, underscoring the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) resolve to ensure accountability for public funds allegedly lost through the scheme.
The case involves Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, alongside his co-accused Joshua Lelei and Meshack Rono, who are facing charges related to graft and embezzlement of public funds.
The matter is being heard before Senior Principal Magistrate Alloys Ndege..
Led by prosecuting counsels Moses Macharia and Dan Smith Mbalasi, the State presented further evidence by calling a bank official to the stand.
The witness gave detailed testimony on a series of cheques allegedly signed by the accused persons, explaining standard banking procedures and how financial transactions are initiated, verified and processed within banking institutions.
In court, the witness traced the movement of funds through several accounts and produced documentary exhibits linking the transactions to specific accounts under investigation.
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The prosecution argued that the banking records are critical in demonstrating how public funds were allegedly handled and transferred through different financial channels.
According to the State, the evidence forms part of a broader case that funds channeled through the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust Fund were unlawfully diverted from their intended purpose.
The fund had been established to support students pursuing higher education opportunities in Finland under a county-sponsored scholarship programme.
Prosecutors contend that the alleged misappropriation not only exposed public resources to abuse but also denied deserving students a life-changing opportunity to study abroad, disrupting their education and future prospects.
The defence teams are expected to challenge the evidence through cross-examination as the trial progresses. The court will continue receiving further testimony and documentary evidence from the prosecution when the hearing resumes on the next scheduled date.
By Philip Koech
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