The Ksh 1.1 billion Uasin Gishu foreign scholarship scandal has taken a shocking new twist following recent court testimonies that exposed major gaps in accountability.
Survivors and victims of the botched programme, which promised international academic placements, revealed in court that they paid large amounts of money during the tenure of Governor Jonathan Bii.
However, despite his administration being in charge when the funds were collected and when no placements were delivered, his name remains missing from the list of accused persons.
This revelation has angered affected families who are still demanding justice years later.
Parents sold land, took loans, and even emptied savings to secure opportunities for their children to study in countries such as Finland and Canada.
But instead of boarding flights, the students were left in limbo, with no clear communication, no refunds, and no answers.
In court, some of the parents emotionally recounted how they trusted the county government and were told everything was official and supported by top leadership.
Yet, even as former officials and junior staff face charges, the current governor has not been summoned or mentioned as a suspect.
Many are now questioning how a scandal of this scale could happen without the involvement or knowledge of the top county leadership. The programme continued under Jonathan Bii’s watch after he was elected governor, and yet no action was taken to refund the victims or clarify the fate of the money.
Witnesses claim they approached the governor directly or his office for help when the programme began to collapse but were ignored.
Others believe there was a deliberate cover-up, and that shielding Bii is part of a bigger effort to protect powerful people behind the fraud.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission have also come under fire for failing to move fast or wide enough in their investigations.
Critics argue that justice is being delayed and selectively applied, punishing small players while leaving those at the top untouched.
The latest court sessions have reignited calls for a deeper probe, with many demanding that Jonathan Bii be called to account.
Parents say they will not rest until all the money is refunded or someone takes full responsibility.
The absence of Governor Bii’s name from the list of accused persons is raising more questions than answers.
The people of Uasin Gishu, especially the victims, are watching closely, hoping that the truth will not be buried and that justice will not be limited to scapegoats.
For now, the scandal remains a painful reminder of broken promises and a county leadership that appears unwilling to come clean.
