Senator Mandago Has Gone Into Hiding- Police Launch Manhunt

UPDATE: The National Police Service (NPS) revealed that Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago went into hiding since Tuesday, August 15 while revealing that it was in the process of executing a warrant of arrest issued against him.

NPS also appealed to Kenyans to provide information regarding his whereabouts through the communication channels it provided.

"The National Police Service is in the process of executing a Warrant of Arrest against Uasin Gishu Senator Hon. Jackson Mandago, who has gone underground since yesterday and calls upon the Senator to present himself at the nearest police station. 

"NPS further appeals to any member of the public with information about Senator Mandago's whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or report via our toll-free numbers  999, 112, 911 and the fichua Kwa DCI 0800722203," stated NPS.

Uasin Gishu Senator, Jackson Mandago, revealed on Wednesday, August 16 that he was available to be summoned, amidst the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordering his arrest.

According to reports, the DPP ordered the arrest of Mandago alongside three others over Finland and Canada Overseas Education Programme where millions were allegedly misused.

A Nakuru Court had issued a warrant of arrest for Mandago together with three other top county officials, who are wanted by police for prosecution over the county’s scholarship saga.

The other officials are Joseph Kipkemoi Maritim, Meshak Rono and Joshua Kipkemoi Lelei.

However, in a statement, Mandago revealed that he was ready to surrender to the police if circumstances require him to do so.

He also noted that he met with the leadership of the parents who are demanding refunds from the controversial programme.

"There are rumours all over Eldoret Town that DCI Officers have been looking for me the whole night. As a law-abiding citizen, I am available once summoned.

"I have met with the leadership of parents and agreed on the way forward as per their press statement issued last evening," he tweeted.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) gave consent for the prosecution of the officials in the fiasco.

The quartet are supposed to face charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, stealing and abuse of office as well as accusations of forgery.

According to a charge sheet seen by Viral Tea, they are accused of conspiring to steal Ksh1 billion from an account domiciled at a local bank in Eldoret registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund meant for overseas university fees for students under Uasin Gishu County Overseas Education Programme.

The detectives handling the matter said they had tried to reach the wanted officials in vain, who claimed on their part that they were attending the Devolution Conference in Eldoret town. This prompted police to move to Nakuru law courts to seek warrants to arrest the suspects.

On Thursday, August 10, Mandago revealed that he recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

"I have today recorded my statement at the DCI headquarters (Kiambu Road) on the Finland and Canada overseas education program," he tweeted.

He however did not reveal the details of the statement he recorded at the investigative agency in relation to the county's controversial scholarship programmes for Australia, Finland and Canada.

The DCI had officially commenced investigations into the saga which cost parents and students millions of shillings in the controversial programme.