Kenyan Students in Finland at Risk of Deportation
Over 200 students from Uasin Gishu, Kenya migrated to Finland between September 2021 and September 2022 to pursue various courses on full scholarships from the county government of Uasin Gishu and the government of Finland.
Several families are trying to find a solution to save their children’s education journeys as they are currently stranded in Finland.
The parents claim that they paid between Ksh. 1M and 1.2 million shillings, which they believed would be sufficient to cover the duration of their children’s education, including school fees, accommodation, and air tickets.
The institution shocked them by asking them to top up between 600k and 700k for diploma and degree courses, respectively, to stop the impending deportation of their kin for lack of fees.
Furthermore, the institution demanded that the parents pay money into an overseas education trust account to cater for their children’s needs in Finland.
Although the parents believed that the money they paid was enough to cover all expenses, the institution asked them to top up their fees, leaving them in a rude shock.
The county has denied issuing full scholarships to the students, but the affected students and parents have provided proof from the county committing to providing full scholarships.
The parents are now seeking a way out of the quagmire they find themselves in and are making attempts to have the universities set up a separate account to process fees payments as they have lost trust with the county’s management of the funds.
Over 35 million withdrawn
The Overseas Education Trust Account had at least 35 million shillings, but the ethics and anti-corruption officers discovered that someone had wiped it clean. As a result, they are investigating the case actively.
The parents claim that they discovered misappropriation of their funds, with someone withdrawing 400k in the morning and another 400k in the evening.
The parents are still holding consultations as they seek a way out of the situation. It is unclear what will happen to the affected students, but the situation highlights the need for transparency and accountability when it comes to scholarship funds, especially for students studying overseas.
It is important for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that students receive the education they deserve without any financial difficulties or hardships.
Kenyan Students in Finland at Risk of Deportation
