Not a Scholarship: Uasin Gishu Puts Things Straight Over Finland Program

The County Government of Uasin Gishu has come out to clarify the Finland Program which has seen over 200 students travel abroad for studies.

A statement from Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim issued on March 5, 2023, indicated that the program was not a scholarship by the county as it had widely been thought.

According to the governor, there were no public funds involved in the program launched during the previous administration.

“The program was run independently of county government by a trust, and no public funds were used to fund the program. This, therefore, means that no public funds were or will be appropriated to fund this program,” Chelilim said in part of the statement.

“The overseas program was created to enable parents who did not have the ability to obtain bank statements or even bank accounts to support the visa application process,” he added.

Extension of fee payment period

But with reports that some of the students were facing deportation for failure to pay school fees, the county boss said they had managed to secure an extension of the period.

Currently, the county says, it has 202 students in three Finnish institutions – 111 at Tampere University, Jvaskyla (25) and 66 who are in Laurea.

Another 56 students have studied one semester online and obtained visas to study at Laurea University. This group must pay second-semester fees by March 31st before travelling to Finland.

For those already in Finland, Governor Chelilim said they have negotiated with universities for an extension of the fee due dates.

However, Tampere University declined to extend the period.

“The fees for the second semester are due on March 31st, 2023, while the due date for Tampere University has lapsed,” the governor said.

Ah-hoc committee report

Reports of some of the students facing deportation come at a time the Uasin Gishu County Assembly passed a report seeking an audit and investigation of the Finland program.

The Assembly formed an ad-hoc committee to probe the program after some of the locals filed a petition.

Among the recommendations in the report is suspending county officers involved in the program and halting further similar programs until proper guidelines are established.

• MCAs Recommend Suspension of County Officials Involved In Finland Scholarship Program

However, the county revealed that several other students are already lined up to travel to Finland amid the ongoing outcry.

48 students have already obtained visas and completed the pathway to study engineering at LUT University.

“They are ready to travel, and their first-year fees have been paid,” Chelilim said.

Further, 78 students have paid fees to the universities and their visa applications have been launched.

In total, there are 384 students engaged in the Finland program – both at the university and in Kenya awaiting travel.