Ksh68 Million Refunded to Parents in Finland, Canada Overseas Program

At least 121 parents whose students were to study in Finland and Canada under the Uasin Gishu Overseas Program has opted out.

The parents have also demanded for a refund of the money they had paid.

Data from the county indicate that so far, Ksh68.1 million has been paid out to the parents in refunds.

Refund to the parents were made as early as January 2023, the new report has revealed.

“The refund is less incurred costs,” Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Eng John Barorot said in a joint statement on Saturday.

Among parents that have been refunded is Joseph Rono who received Ksh918,000, Eunice Chelagat (Ksh108,800) and Edward Boss who was paid a refund of Ksh640,800.

Arrears

Further, the county said it owes parents Ksh142,878,950, a huge percentage of which is for students that were to study in Canada (Ksh87 million) and Ksh55 million for those in Finland.

A section of parents have been demanding for a refund after opting out of the program that has faced controversies.

But even as some parents want their money back, it has emerged that some of them are yet to clear payments despite their children already abroad studying.

Data provided by the county indicate that there are 322 parents with children both in Canada and Finland who are yet to pay a cumulative sum of Ksh96,673,090.

The county has since announced a scheduled meeting with parents, among them those with arrears in bid to recover them.

“All parents must settle arrears to facilitate refunds to those that have opted out,” Eng. Barorot said.

He further warned that the county might be forced to publish a list of parents yet to clear their arrears and institute other recovery measures.

Senator Jackson Mandago who was present during the media briefing said some of the parents that have been vocally demanding for a refund are among those whose children are abroad and nearing graduation but have arrears.

The Uasin Gishu Overseas Program was initiated during Senator Mandago’s reign as governor.

Currently, there are 322 students in various Canadian and Finnish institutions courtesy of the program.

277 of the total students are in Finland while 45 are in Canada.

Parents paid between Ksh1.5 million and Ksh3 million for their students to secure the programs in the two countries.