Pressure Mounts for Resolution of Finland Scholarship Saga

Eldoret, Kenya | July 29, 2026

The long-running Uasin Gishu Finland and Canada scholarship saga has taken a new turn, with affected parents and students intensifying calls for refunds and accountability following the acquittal of Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and his co-accused in the case. The affected families say they remain burdened by financial losses and are demanding a lasting solution to the stalled overseas education programme.

On Tuesday, dozens of parents and students staged demonstrations in Eldoret, calling on both the national and county governments to intervene and ensure they recover the millions of shillings paid into the programme. Protesters carried placards and marched through the town, insisting they had waited for years without compensation despite repeated promises from leaders.

The protests came days after a Nakuru court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Senator Mandago and two co-accused persons, leading to their acquittal. While the ruling marked the end of the criminal trial, it did not resolve the concerns of families who say they either lost money or whose children were left stranded after tuition and accommodation fees went unpaid.

Community leaders have since pledged to work with stakeholders to find a lasting solution, but affected families maintain that they will continue pushing for refunds and justice until their grievances are addressed. The scholarship programme, launched to enable students to pursue higher education in Finland and Canada, has remained a high-profile public accountability issue in Kenya.