It has now emerged that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recently gave a green light for the prosecution of Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago.
This is after the DPP agreed with evidence that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) presented before him in regard to the alleged misuse of money parents paid for the Finland and Canada education overseas program.
But while the DPP had allowed the DCI to arrest Mandago alongside three other Uasin Gishu County officials linked to the scam, police told a Nakuru Court that they have been unable to execute the orders.
It is for this reason that the DCI successfully asked the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the former Governor and the three officials.
The order was issued on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund
According to court documents seen by Uasin Gishu News, Mandago is facing charges related to conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 393 of the Penal Code.
The Senator alongside Joseph Maritim, Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei are accused of conspiring to steal Ksh1.1 billion from a KCB account that had been opened for parents to deposit school fees for the controversial overseas program.
The prosecution, in court papers, says the crime was committed between March 2021 and September 2021.
“…on diverse dates between March 1, 2021, and September 12, 2021, within Uasin Gishu County jointly with others not before court, conspired to steal Kenya Shillings 1,100,000,000 from Account No. 1285922778 domiciled at Kenya Commercial Bank Eldoret, registered under Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund, meant for overseas university fee for students under the Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Program,” read part of the charge sheet.
The prosecution has listed Mercy Tarus and CI Martin Munene as witnesses in the case.
Court documents also reveal that there are over 179 complainants in the case.
However, Mandago’s specific charge is an abuse of office for signing MoUs with Canadian and Finland institutions without approval from the Uasin Gishu County Assembly as required by law.
Following the warrant of arrest that the Nakuru court issued, DCI is now hunting for the vocal Senator.
However, the Senator had taken to his social media pages to dispel rumours that he was on the police radar.
He said he has always been available to appear before any authority once summoned.
“There are rumours all over Eldoret Town that DCI Officers have been looking for me the whole night. As a law-abiding citizen, I am available once summoned,” Mandago posted on his X account, formerly Twitter.
There are rumours all over Eldoret Town that DCI Officers have been looking for me the whole night. As a law abiding citizen, I am available once summoned. I have met with the leadership of parents and agreed on the way foward as per their press statement issued last evening.
— Senator Jackson Mandago, EGH (@GvnMandago) August 16, 2023
[…] Revealed: Charges DPP Approved Against Senator Mandago […]