Kenyan High Court Grants Bail to Senator and Former Officials Involved in Scholarship Scandal.
A Kenyan high court has approved the release on bail of a senator and two former county officials who were implicated in a scholarship scandal. The trio was apprehended on Wednesday over allegations of conspiring to embezzle approximately 1.1 billion Kenyan shillings (equivalent to $7.6 million or £5.9 million). These funds were intended for supporting further education opportunities for Kenyan students in Finland and Canada.
The senator and his co-defendants are set to face a total of 11 charges. The senator has previously refuted claims of mishandling the funds. However, on Thursday, a magistrate decreed that the trial could only commence once all four suspects were present in court.
In a surprising turn of events, Kenyan police announced on Wednesday via Twitter that one of the suspects, Joseph Maritim, had fled the country. Nevertheless, Mr. Maritim’s attorney, Zephania Yego, informed the court that his client was unaware of the charges when he departed for Canada on August 13. Yego assured that Maritim would return to address the charges accordingly.
HON MANDAGO AND TWO OTHERS BEHIND BARS
Uasin-Gishu Senator Hon Jackson Mandago, shall spend the night in custody after being arrested by detectives over the Finland scholarship scandal.
The senator was arrested alongside two top County officials Joshua Lelei and Mishack Rono…
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) August 16, 2023
According to local media reports, the prosecution intends to challenge the court’s decision to release the senator and his co-defendants on bail.
