Parents Protest Extra Sh540,000 Fee for Finland Studies.
In Uasin Gishu County, over 180 students faced barriers to studying in Finland due to an unexpected Sh541,000 fee. The court, overseen by Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege, heard testimonies from parents who were surprised by this additional cost. Prosecutors Lenna Wanga and Angeline Chinga led the examination.
Parents discovered this extra Pathway Course Fee a year after they had already paid Sh1.17 million for the Finland education program. Furthermore, the case involves Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, who faces charges of misusing Sh1.1 billion allocated for the Finland Education Programme. Additionally, he is accused alongside county officials Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei of conspiracy to steal, theft, and abuse of office.
Salina Cherono, a county official, testified about her experience. She paid Sh918,000 for her son, Jim Clinton Kibet, to study nursing at Porvoo Campus under Laurea University in Finland. In addition, Cherono detailed that she made two payments: Sh520,000 on February 25, 2022, and Sh398,000 on February 26, 2022, to the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Fund.
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Cherono believed this amount was sufficient for her son’s studies in Finland. However, on July 19, 2022, her son began a three-month course that turned out to be a pathway course. This course, conducted online and at Rift Valley Technical Training Institute in Eldoret, aimed to teach Finnish language and other necessary skills for studying in Finland.
In addition to the course fee, officials asked Cherono to pay Sh79,000 for a visa (Sh49,000) and insurance (Sh30,000), which she paid on May 17, 2022. After making these payments, officials told her to wait as they still processed the program.
By May 9, 2023, frustrated with the delays, Cherono wrote to the Overseas Fund to withdraw her son’s participation and requested a refund. She demanded Sh997,000 from the county government, which she had paid for her son’s education. Consequently, officials informed her of the additional Sh541,000 needed to facilitate his travel. Cherono expressed her frustration in court, stating that she had not been aware of these extra fees and that they had not refunded her money to date.
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The case highlights significant issues with transparency and management within the Finland Education Programme. Consequently, many parents are left in financial distress, having paid large sums with the expectation of securing their children’s education abroad. Furthermore, the legal proceedings against Senator Mandago and the county officials will continue to shed light on the alleged mismanagement and possible corruption involved in the program.
This situation has caused an uproar among parents and the community, demanding accountability and justice. The ongoing trial will determine the fate of the accused and hopefully provide some resolution for the affected families.
Parents Protest Extra Sh540,000 Fee for Finland Studies.
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