A central figure in a major Kenyan education fraud case was arrested and charged Monday, advancing the probe into a Sh1.1 billion ($7.6 million) scandal that devastated hundreds of families and left students stranded abroad.
Joseph Maritim, principal trustee of the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust, faced six counts of fraud, forgery and abuse of office in a Nakuru court. The charges follow two years after Uasin Gishu Sen. Jackson Mandago and county officials Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei were arraigned. Prosecutors allege Maritim helped divert scholarship funds for studies in Finland and Canada.
The 55-year-old pleaded not guilty and was freed on Sh500,000 ($3,400) cash bail, with a mention set for Jan. 15. Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission intensified since 2023.
Scandal’s origins and fallout
The scheme began in 2021 under Mandago’s governorship in rural Uasin Gishu County, promising overseas scholarships for underprivileged students in nursing and engineering. Parents paid Sh800,000 ($5,500) to Sh1.2 million ($8,200) per child into a trust at Kenya Commercial Bank in Eldoret, with unapproved partnerships touted for schools like Finland’s Laurea University and Canada’s Niagara College.
By 2023, students faced evictions and deportation over unpaid fees. A task force found most funds were siphoned via dubious transfers. Accused officials allegedly forged documents, misrepresenting the parent-funded program as a county scholarship. Maritim is charged with stealing Sh56.5 million plus Sh660,000; Rono and Lelei with Sh10.8 million and Sh2.7 million.
Victims’ anguish and legal battles
Families sold assets and took loans, only to face betrayal. Over 300 were affected, sparking 2023 protests in Eldoret for refunds. “We trusted the government, but they betrayed us,” one parent said anonymously.
Mandago, now senator, was arrested in 2023 but bonded out, blaming successor Gov. Jonathan Bii, who denies responsibility. October 2024 brought new charges against Mandago and others for Sh50 million more. Prosecutors ready 202 witnesses, including students and bankers, for trial by December 2025.
Broader implications
The case underscores vulnerabilities in Kenya’s county governance and calls for tighter oversight of education partnerships. Victims await full restitution amid partial refunds. The commission probes other officials, including a former Baringo chief. The scandal warns against unchecked international education initiatives.
