A Nakuru court on Monday ordered the arrest of Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and his former Deputy Governor, John Barorot.
Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege issued the order after both officials failed to appear in court to testify about the ongoing Ksh1.1 billion Finland Education Programme scandal.
Two other people involved in the case were also issued arrest warrants.
The scandal, which has captured the public’s attention, involves allegations of misappropriation of funds intended for a collaborative education project with Finland.
The case has been marred by delays and noncompliance by key figures who were expected to provide critical testimony about financial mismanagement.
The Senior Principal Magistrate issued arrest warrants for five people, including two who had been previously bonded by the prosecution but failed to appear in court.
The arrest warrants included Hillary Ruto, Stephen Lel, and Edwin Lel.
The court has also summoned two key witnesses, Mercy Tarus and Joel Koech, to testify.
These witnesses are critical in the case against Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two others charged with misappropriation of funds in the Finland scandal.
This fund was originally intended to support an overseas education scholarship for needy children.
The testimony of Tarus and Koech is expected to be pivotal in the proceedings, shedding light on the alleged financial misconduct.
A revelation in a Nakuru court in July 2024 stunned attendees when Joel Cheruiyot Chelule, chairperson of the Uasin Gishu County Revolving Fund, admitted to receiving substantial payments for accompanying a former county governor on international trips.
Chelule revealed that he was paid Ksh 700,000 per diem for accompanying the then-county governor to Finland and Canada in 2021.
Their purpose for traveling was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with three universities in order to establish an overseas education program for students from the county.
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