- The parents who met in Eldoret were led by Barnabas Murrey and Mary Kiptoo.
- They noted that they needed the money they had given to the county to enable them to pay fees.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
Some of the parents affected in the alleged Finland education scam in Uasin Gishu are now demanding a refund of all money they paid to the county government.
The parents said they want to be refunded all money that was not remitted to universities in Finland which have threatened to deport some of the students for failing to pay fees.
The parents who met in Eldoret were led by Barnabas Murrey and Mary Kiptoo.
They noted that they needed the money they had given to the county to enable them to pay fees.
"We are now required to pay fees before the end of this month yet the county is withholding the money we paid to them," said
The parents have now parted with the county government and signed a new deal to keep their children at Tampere University.
The parents signed a new deal with a private company Maxglobal Group that will link them with Tampere University in Finland.
Murrey and Kiptoo signed the new deal with Maxglobal on behalf of other parents.
The new deal will ensure 110 students continue with their studies at Tampere University in Finland.
Tampere had signed an education MoU with the county which the university has terminated due to controversy over non-payment of fees.
Tampere has now agreed to work with Maxglobal and the parents directly. The firm will be a guarantor for the parents.
CEO of the Maxglobal group Cornelius Kiplagat and General Manager Phillip Koskei said they had developed a long-time relationship with Tampere University.
"Under the deal, we have signed with the parents Maxglobal will not handle any money because parents will directly pay the university with our firm acting as a guarantor," said Koskei.
Kiplagat urged local leaders not to politicise the education programmes in Finland but work to resolve issues that caused challenges.
"As Maxglobal we will ensure that the students we handle are well cared for through our transparent operations."
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has suspended the controversial overseas education programme in Finland which was being coordinated by the county.
The move followed claims of graft in the programme which affected more than 380 students from Uasin Gishu.
Money collected from some of the students was to be paid to colleges in Finland as fees but that did not happen.
Some of the students have been threatened with deportation.
"We have resolved that there will be no new students recruited for the programme until we sort out the challenges we have currently," said Bii.
He was speaking at his office in Eldoret after a meeting with local leaders including MPs Oscar Sudi of Kapsaret and Janet Sitienei of Turbo.
Bii said already officials from the EACC had visited his office as part of investigations into the matter.
The Finland programme was initiated during the regime of former governor Jackson Mandago and it was run through a private trust with the county acting as a guarantor for the students.
Bii also noted that the county working with affected parents and students had opened a new bank account to facilitate payment of the fees.
Sudi said they had agreed that they would ensure students who are already in Finland continue with their studies.
"As leaders, we will do everything possible to ensure learning for the students is not affected', said Sudi.
He said those who may have diverted the money in question would be dealt with as per the law.
Bii has suspended three senior officers at the county linked to the fraud claims.
The leaders who also included deputy govenor John Barorot said they had agreed that the Finland programme was noble and would continue later.
"We will not allow such a good programme to collapse because of fraud by a few individuals who will have to pay for their sins," said Sudi.
The MPs urged affected parents and students to be calm as the matter was being sorted out.
"We should not politicise this issue and blame each other. We are looking for solutions and everything will be resolved," said Sudi.
He said the leaders were also dealing with another controversy in the county involving the First Choice Recruitment Agency.
The agency has been hit by a row following claims that it collected money from youth in Uasin Gishu to secure jobs for them in Qatar and other countries but failed to do so as from last year.
CEO of the firm Judy Chepchirchir has denied any wrongdoing and noted that her firm was doing legitimate business and had not conned anyone.
On Sunday she flagged off more than 100 youths who will fly out this week for jobs abroad.
Sudi said they would also meet the owners of the firm and sort out challenges concerning their programmes.