Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has been freed on Ksh.500,000 cash bail pending plea after spending a night behind bars.
Mandago was released on Thursday, August 17, alongside Joshua Lelei and Meshack Rono who allegedly were involved in the Uasin Gishu Finland Airlift programme .
Senator Mandago and his co-accused were arrested in Eldoret on August 16, 2023, in connection with the airlift saga.
He is embroiled in a swindle that saw parents lose millions in cash in a botched academic airlift programme that took off when he was the governor.
Appearing before a Nakuru court, senator Mandago and his co-accused were charged with conspiring to steal Ksh1.1 billion that was meant for the scheme.
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Senior Principal Magistrate Alloyce Ndege ruled that the three should return later for plea-taking.
However, Joseph Maritim, who is the first respondent, did not appear in court as he is currently out of the country.
His lawyer Sam Yego requested that the bond given to other accused persons apply to him too and his arrest warrant be lifted.
“My client is not a fugitive, he was not summoned to record a statement, neither was he informed to appear in court today,” he argued.
“I have explained why he is in Canada, and he went there way before investigations commenced. As to why he is singled out among the four accused persons for a warrant of arrest I do not understand,” he added.
Mandago involvement in Finland Scam
Senator Mandago and other accused persons are accused of conspiring to steal Ksh. 1.1 billion from a local bank registered under Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund.
The funds were meant to cater for university fees of students who had signed up for the programme to study in Finland and Canada.
A warrant of arrest had been issued by a Nakuru court against Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and three others over allegations of abuse of office and stealing.
Also Read: Millionaires of Eldoret: Ruto and 4 Tycoons from Uasin Gishu
The Director of Public Prosecutions had earlier ordered the arrest of Mandago and the three officials.
President William Ruto during an address to the people of Eldoret town threw senator Mandago under the bus stating that any person found liable should be ready to face consequences.
