Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has distanced himself from Finland scholarship fee payment row, saying former governor Jackson Mandago (now Uasin Gishu Senator) should come out and explain what happened.

Addressing the press in Eldoret town on Tuesday, Bii said his administration is only handling the issue for the sake of parents and students who might have paid money not proceeded to further their education abroad.

Bii said no one should involve him in any emerging scam, and those involved in swindling the scholarship funds should carry their cross.

According to Bii, the programme was managed by an independent fund known as Uasin Gishu overseas education Trust not the county government. A discovery he made when he took office in August 2022.

He said they had already invited EACC to investigate the matter and they are still awaiting for their recommendations.

Bii added that he formed a task force chaired by his deputy John Barorot in December 2022, to look into the matter and make recommendations.

The task force has so far established that the Uasin Gishu overseas education trust was operating a KCB bank account which used to receive funds for fees, accommodation and flight charges for students enrolling in Finland and Canadian institutions.

Deputy Governor Barorot said the taskforce also found out that some students have no placement but have paid one semester fees, saying, 365 students have not paid their fees yet their fees and accommodation was paid.