[Image]More than 300 parents who are victims of the Finland education scam in Uasin Gishu have protested demanding a refund of money they paid to the county.The parents along with their affected children now want President William Ruto to intervene and ensure the county pays back money.The parents paid between Sh1.2 million and Sh3.5 million to the county which was to take their children to colleges in Finland.The group led by Edward Kiptek and Shadrack Juma said they had visited the county many times but their pleas to be refunded had been ignored.The Finland overseas education programme was initiated during the former regime and the parents want an explanation of what transpired.Over 200 students travelled to Finland where they are studying but another group of more than 300 failed to benefit despite paying huge sums of money as fees and other travel costs.Governor Jonathan Bii had exonerated the county from the matter and said the programme was handled by a private trust with the county only acting as a guarantor.Bii suspended three top county officials who were involved and the matter is also under probe by the EACC and the DCI.The money paid by the parents estimated at more than Sh100 million went missing from bank accounts where they deposited the payments."We are also asking President Ruto to intervene because he should not tolerate such injustice to any Kenyan leave alone in his home county of Uasin Gishu," Kiptek said.Kiptek said he had paid Sh2.5 million for his two children but so far none of them had benefitted from the overseas education programme causing stress and anguish to his family."I have suffered a lot of stress and my children are worrying after failing in their hopes to stud in Finland yet as a family we used all the money we had to pay for the programme," Kiptek said.Juma claimed their efforts to seek an audience with county officials on the refund had fallen on deaf ears."It's the county which advertised for the programme and we paid money as advised. Even if it means death, we will fight until justice is done," he said.Juma also paid over Sh1.5 million for his child to travel last year but hasn't been refunded.Rights activist Kimutai Kirui who was also present said he had on behalf of the affected parents petitioned the Senate to investigate the matter."This is not a light matter and we will push to have justice for the affected parents and their children," Kirui said.He wondered why the county got involved in such a programme.Kirui said many parents had been fleeced on the overseas education programmes and President Ruto should take up the matter."Those involved in these scams should not imagine that they will go scot-free. Justice will be done. Their tears will not be in vain," he said. BY THE STAR
posted by Breaking Kenya news at 11:30 on 7 Jul 2023
"Parents of Finland victims protest as they seek refund"
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