A section of parents from Uasin Gishu County has insisted that the county must refund the money paid to facilitate the travel and study of their children abroad.
The parents had paid for school fees to enable their children to fly to various institutions in Canada and Finland under the county overseas program.
But while Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and his deputy Eng John Barorot on Tuesday said it was not possible for refunds to be given at this time, the parents insist they want nothing short of that.
“We want our money back; we have no war with anybody. This is not politics; this is not war with anybody,” David Kosgey, one of the parents under the program told journalists on Wednesday.
“We have been asking for a refund for over a year now. At some point, we were told to write refund letters. If the county knew the account did not have any funds, why did they ask us to write those letters requesting a refund?” asked Emily Chelagat also a parent.
On Tuesday, the governor and his deputy gave a breakdown of how the money in the Uasin Gishu Overseas Trust Fund was utilized, indicating that so far, the account in which parents’ money was deposited had only Ksh1.8 million available.
“We have laid the facts bare and as of now, the money for a refund is not available,” the deputy county boss said.
Parents said they are demanding a refund of about Ksh300 million. Each parent paid between Ksh1.2 million and Ksh2.5 million to facilitate the travel and fees of their children to Finland and Canada.
You’re in power
On the request by the governor that he be left alone over the program, the parents insisted that he is the one in charge and should see to it that the matters they are raising are addressed in conclusion.
“We cannot go after Mandago. You told us you were handling the matter. Some of the money was also paid when you were in power in October. You were also handed over everything the previous administration was doing,” noted another parent – Joseph Mutai from Ziwa.
During the media address, Governor Bii said the found the program ongoing and that it was time his predecessor Jackson Mandago also came out and shed more light on the matters that were being raised about it.
“We found this initiative in place when we took over the leadership but because I’m the current leader and have a duty to answer what I know. Governor Mandago now our senator should also come and explain,” he said.
