A Nakuru court has issued arrest warrants for Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, his former deputy John Barorot, and three others after they failed to appear in court to testify in the ongoing Sh1.1 billion Finland Education Programme scandal.
Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege ordered the arrests after their absence stalled the legal process.
The other three individuals facing arrest are Hillary Ruto, Stephen Lel, and Edwin Lel, who had all been summoned by the prosecution but failed to show up in court.
The case involves Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two former officials accused of misappropriating Sh1 billion allocated for an overseas education scholarship meant for underprivileged students.
Magistrate Ndege stressed the importance of the testimonies, emphasizing that the absence of key witnesses was hindering progress in the case.
He also summoned two more critical witnesses, Mercy Tarus, a vocal critic of the fund’s mismanagement, and Dr. Joel Koech, to appear in court on September 11, 2024.
The scandal revolves around allegations that the accused conspired to embezzle Sh1.1 billion from KCB Bank in Eldoret between March 2021 and September 2022.
The funds were intended to support students studying abroad through the county’s education program but were reportedly mismanaged, leaving many students at risk of deportation.
The accused, including Senator Mandago, have denied charges of theft, conspiracy, abuse of office, and forgery.
The case continues to draw public attention as more details emerge about the misuse of funds intended to benefit students pursuing education in Finland and Canada.