Jackson Mandago To Spend Night In Custody After Absconding Plea In KSh 1.1 Billion Theft Case

• Uasin Gishu Senator was arrested on Wednesday, August 16, after he failed to show up in court to take plea to counts of stealing and abuse of office
• The former Uasin Gishu governor had earlier denied claims that he was wanted, claiming that he had resolved the issue with the complainants
• Mandago is at the centre of accusations involving the disappearance of funds for students seeking to advance their studies in Finland and Canada

Uasin Gishu senator Jackson Mandago will spend the night in custody at Nakuru Central Police Station before his arraignment on Thursday, August 17.

Finland scholarship scandal

The politician was arrested over a Finland and Canada scholarship scandal in which parents decried losing millions of funds meant to take their children for further studies.

Tens of parents reportedly lost their money in a scheme dubbed Finland Scholarship Programme through Uasin Gishu county that was championed by Mandago's administration.

In a video seen by TUKO.co.ke, the senator and two other individuals are seen being escorted to a car ahead of their transfer to Nakuru Central Police Station.

Jackson Mandago arrested

The senator was arrested on Wednesday, August 16, shortly after the police confirmed they had received a warrant of arrest order to execute.

TUKO.co.ke found out that Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege had issued a warrant of arrest after Mandago and some former and current Uasin Gishu county employees failed to show up in court on Wednesday, August 16, morning.

List of charges Jackson Mandago is facing

The suspects Joseph Kipkemboi Maritim, Meshack Rono, Joshua Kipkemboi Lelei and Mandago are facing charges of stealing, abuse of office and forgery.

In the first count, the four are accused of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 393 of the penal code.

According to the charge sheet, on diverse dates, between March 1, 2021 and September 12, 2021 within Uasin Gishu county, jointly with others not before court, conspired to steal KSh 1.1 billion from Account No. 1285922... domiciled at Kenya Commercial Bank, Eldoret.

The money was meant for overseas university fees for students under the Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Programme.

A source privy to the happenings told TUKO.co.ke that Mandago presented himself at Nakuru Directorate of Criminal Investigations Office at around 4.30pm on Wednesday, August 16.

"The courts closed at 5pm when he had not been arraigned and that is why he was taken to police custody. He will take plea tomorrow at 8am," said the source who is documenting the developments.

Earlier in the day, President William Ruto weighed in on the scandal, saying that investigations were ongoing.

He warned that anyone who had benefitted from the money to prepare to pay it early or they would be in trouble as there would be no bargain.

The president said it was painful for parents to sell their land and cattle to raise fees to educate their children, only for unscrupulous Kenyans to defraud them.

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Jackson Mandago

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago to spend night in police custody

Jackson Mandago to Spend Night in Custody after Absconding Plea in KSh 1.1 Billion Theft Case