Uasin Gishu Sends Another Cohort of Students to Finland Amid Controversy
Uasin Gishu is dispatching another group of students to Finland despite the fact that its airlift program has encountered difficulties over the past four months.
On Saturday, forty students obtained visas for Finland and indicated that they would begin their university studies next month. Parents who paid millions for their children to attend colleges and universities in Finland have demanded refunds.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, who are looking into the matter, have questioned Jackson Mandago, the former governor of Uasin Gishu.
After months of back-and-forth, students who are scheduled to depart for Finland this week expressed their relief.
They requested that the county expedite the processing of visas for a number of students who have paid their tuition fees through the County Overseas Studies Trust Fund account but have yet to begin their studies.
Officials from Uasin Gishu County, who met the forty students in Eldoret on Saturday, declined to speak with the media.
A source told The Standard that the county had begun remitting fees to Finnish universities on behalf of airlift-eligible students.
An official mentioned that the airlift program remains noble. While some students retain their interest, there are also those who have been insistent on obtaining refunds.
Mercy Cherono, who will study nursing at Laurea University of Applied Sciences and is leading a group of students to Finland, expressed optimism that she would begin her studies after nearly a year of waiting.
Cherono remarked that she had been waiting for an extended period and found solace in the acquisition of her visa and the assurance from Laurea University regarding her fees and accommodations.
She also added that she was urging the current county administration to adopt transparency to rebuild trust.
Additionally, she mentioned that the current news was not a cause for celebration for them, as many of their friends had yet to embark on their travels despite having settled their university and college fees more than a year ago.
She reported that Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii intervened by directly contacting Finnish universities.
We hope that the same holds true for our remaining colleagues.
Mercy Chebet, another student destined for Finland, stated that she has been awaiting admission to Laurea University for one year and seven months.
Chebet requested that the leaders of Uasin Gishu, who initiated the initiative, find a permanent solution that would allow students who applied to study in Finland to continue their studies without interruption.
“We seek a long-term solution so that our colleagues who feel shortchanged can immediately begin their studies. Chebet stated, “We are still optimistic that a solution will be found.”
Another student, Caleb Kiplimo, who is traveling to Finland to study Practical Nursing, stated that he aims to obtain employment in Europe after completing his university education.
“We have had virtual meetings with the university and have ensured that our learning will proceed smoothly,” he explained.
In October, the first class to graduate from the Uasin Gishu evacuation program is anticipated.
Uasin Gishu Sends Another Cohort of Students to Finland Amid Controversy
