Victims of Finland Airlift Saga Turn to Eldoret Small Claims Court

Parents and students affected by the failed Uasin Gishu overseas study program gathered on Thursday at the Eldoret Small Claims Court in search of justice.

They filed a lawsuit against the county government, Governor Jonathan Bii, his deputy John Barorot, Senator Jackson Mandago, and a group of others implicated in the debacle. The parents have voiced their frustration with the authorities’ mismanagement of funds. Although the accused were not present, their lawyers represented them in court. The Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust and several individuals, including Meshack Rono, Joseph Maritim, Joel Ruto, and Joshua Lelei, were also named in the lawsuit.

Only four witnesses testified during the hearing. This legal battle comes after months of protests by victims who were let down by the county’s mismanagement of funds intended for the education of more than 200 students. During the court proceedings on Thursday, the affected students, represented by their parents, informed Magistrate Tabitha Mbogua of Eldoret Small Claims Court that they had a previous agreement with the Uasin Gishu County government for a study program, which had turned out to be fraudulent.

According to the court documents, the funds were transferred into the Uasin Gishu Education Trust account via the Kenya Commercial Bank in Eldoret. During the trial, both parents and their children issued their testimonies. Ms Milca Limo, whose daughter suffered a loss of Sh950,000, shared in court that she was provided with an account number by a legal officer from the county and she made the payment as directed. Ms Limo expressed her dissatisfaction with the county authorities, claiming that they showed no sympathy when she sought information about her daughter’s scholarship.

The court heard testimonies from four concerned parents who supported the prosecution’s case and urged for a swift resolution. The county government, represented by its legal team, refuted the accusations and asked the court to dismiss the plaintiffs’ claims along with costs. The trial has been postponed until February 26. Meanwhile, Senator Mandago, Meshack Rono, and Joshua Lelei are facing comparable charges in a court in Nakuru.

The trio vehemently denied the allegations of plotting to steal Sh1 from a bank account linked to the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund in Eldoret. To secure their freedom, they each posted a hefty cash bail of Sh500,000. The legal proceedings are currently underway.