List of Charges Jackson Mandago is Facing in Nakuru Court: “Theft, Abuse of Office”

• Uasin Gishu senator Jackson Mandago has been on the spot over his alleged involvement in a university scholarship scandal
• The former governor is facing at least four counts where he is accused of stealing KSh 1.1 billion together with three other suspects cited in the charge sheet
• Mandago’s woes deepened after he failed to show up before a Nakuru court to take a plea on Wednesday, August 16, prompting the magistrate to issue a warrant of arrest

Uasin Gishu senator and former two-time governor Jackson Mandago will spend the night in police custody ahead of his arraignment on Thursday, August 17.

What are Jackson Mandago’s charges?

The politician was detained after the court issued a warrant of arrest following his failure to show up in court to answer several charges of theft and abuse of office on Wednesday, August 16.

Mandago is accused of conspiring to commit a felony in contravention of Section 393 of the penal code alongside Meshack Rono, Joseph Kipkemboi Maritim and Joshua Kipkemboi on diverse dates in 2021.

Charge sheet details indicate that the four, on different dates between March 1, 2021 and September 12, 2021 while in Uasin Gishu county, with others not before the court, conspired to steal KSh 1.1 billion from an account at Kenya Commercial Bank Eldoret branch.

Abuse of office count

The politician is also set to face a charge of abuse of office contrary to section 101 as read with Section 102 (A) of the penal code, CAP 63 Laws of Kenya.

Under this count, Mandago is accused that, as public official, he falsely misrepresented that Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust Account was being opened for the Uasin Gishu county government, an act which was prejudicial to the county government.

Uasin Gishu County Assembly had probed a petition by parents, concluding that the account was not for the devolved unit.

Illegally entering into MOU

In another abuse of office charge, Mandago is accused of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Finland and Canadian universities on behalf of the county.

The charge sheet said that the accused made the move while serving as a governor.

This move is deemed illegal because it was not endorsed by the resolution of the County Assembly, thus prejudicial to the County Government of Uasin Gishu.

Misrepresenting county government

This charge was captured in the details of another count of abuse of office.

Senator Mandago is accused of of arbitrarily misrepresenting that the county government of Uasin Gishu was offering full scholarships to students to study in Finland and Canada.

The prosecution indicated that Mandago did this act while acting as Uasin Gishu governor.

This act is deemed prejudicial to the students under the Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust programme.

Seconding Uasin Gishu county staff

In the last count of abuse of office, the prosecution is accusing Mandago of arbitrarily seconding Uasin Gishu county government staff to a private entity, namely Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust programme.

The staff, the prosecution alleges, drew salary from the county government of Uasin Gishu, an act that was prejudicial to the citizens of Uasin Gishu county.

The four are expected to answer these charges on Thursday, August 17, before a Nakuru court.

Source: TUKO.co.ke