Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and three county officials, Joseph Kipkemoi Maritim, Meshak Rono, and Joshua Kipkemoi Lelei, are facing an arrest order from a Nakuru court in connection with the troubled Finland scholarship program.

The issuance of the warrant has intensified the spotlight on the Uasin Gishu County leadership and has sparked concerns about financial accountability within the devolved unit.

Mandago, responding via his social media channels, has affirmed his cooperation with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) if and when summoned.

In a statement, he emphasized his commitment, stating, “There are rumours all over Eldoret that DCI officers have been looking for me all night. As a law-abiding citizen, I will be available when summoned.”

The focus has sharply turned towards Uasin Gishu County following allegations of mismanagement surrounding the Finland/Canada airlift program.

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Perturbingly, approximately £200 million appears to have been debited to Uasin Gishu County’s overseas accounts without a transparent account of the transactions.

Tensions came to a head during a confrontation between Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and former county governor, Senator Jackson Mandago, at a meeting held within the premises of Eldoret Social Hall.

At the event, parents and students expressed their grievances regarding the mishandling of the scholarship program.

Governor Bii, seeking to distance himself from the controversy, urged Mandago to provide clarity to the public about the situation.

Notably, this arrest order arrives at a pivotal moment for Uasin Gishu County, as it hosts the 2023 Devolution Conference.

The conference, a platform for diverse stakeholders to deliberate on devolution matters, now finds itself in the shadow of the scholarship program scandal and the subsequent legal actions taken against prominent figures within the county.

The unfolding narrative will inevitably keep the Uasin Gishu County leadership, the allegations of financial irregularities, and the legal proceedings against Senator Jackson Mandago and the three county officials under scrutiny.

The case underscores the significance of transparent governance, accountability, and ethical conduct in sustaining the efficiency of devolved units while upholding public confidence in their leadership.