The Nakuru Law Courts have acquitted Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and his co-accused in a criminal case arising from the alleged misappropriation of KSh1.1 billion under the Uasin Gishu County overseas scholarship programme for students pursuing studies in Finland and Canada.

In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the court found that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against the accused persons, bringing to a close one of the criminal proceedings linked to the controversial scholarship programme.

The case stemmed from investigations into the Uasin Gishu County scholarship initiative, which was launched during Mandago’s tenure as governor to facilitate students’ admission to institutions in Finland and Canada. The programme later attracted public scrutiny after dozens of families reported paying substantial sums of money for tuition and placement, only for many students to face delays, uncertainty or fail to secure admission abroad.

Mandago had been charged alongside several former county officials over allegations of conspiracy to commit an economic crime involving funds associated with the programme. All the accused denied the charges throughout the proceedings.

In its ruling, the court held that the prosecution had failed to establish the threshold required to sustain the case against the accused.

“The prosecution did not present sufficient evidence to prove the charges before this court,” the court ruled in acquitting the accused persons.

The acquittal relates specifically to the criminal charges before the Nakuru court and does not invalidate ongoing or separate civil proceedings arising from the scholarship programme, where affected parents continue to seek compensation and other remedies.

The Finland and Canada scholarship programme has remained one of Kenya’s most closely followed education controversies since 2022, with parents alleging they collectively paid hundreds of millions of shillings in tuition, facilitation and travel costs in anticipation of overseas studies for their children.

Investigations by various agencies examined the administration of the programme, the handling of funds and the roles of county officials and private entities involved in coordinating student placements.

Although the criminal case has now concluded with an acquittal, several issues surrounding the programme, including compensation for affected families and the recovery of money paid by parents, remain the subject of separate legal and administrative processes.

Following the judgment, Mandago and his co-accused were discharged of the criminal charges before the court. As with any criminal proceeding, the acquittal means the prosecution did not satisfy the legal burden of proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.