Ruto, Finnish President Struggle to Address Ksh1.1B Scholarship Scandal
President William Ruto and Finnish President Alexander Stubb faced tough questions during a joint media briefing at State House in Nairobi, where they were asked to speak on a major scholarship scandal that left hundreds of Kenyan students stranded.
The scandal, involving around Ksh1.1 billion, has dominated headlines, and many victims are still waiting for justice.
The awkward moment unfolded when Steve Otieno, a journalist from Nation Media Group (NMG), asked the two leaders about the Finnish government’s stance on the matter. The question focused on the affected students who were allegedly misled by Kenyan officials while applying for scholarships to study abroad.
In response, Finnish President Stubb gave a brief and unclear answer. He did not address the role of Kenyan authorities or comment on any direct action to support the affected students.
Instead, he said, “Anytime there are delays in students entering Finland, I find that very unfortunate. Fortunately, we have many universities with very good programmes, and we hope that many of them will be attracted as well.”
This statement was seen as sidestepping the real issue, offering no assurance or direction on whether the students would get help or compensation.
President Ruto also avoided giving detailed answers. He stated only that the Kenyan government is taking the issue seriously and that officials linked to the scam are being held accountable.
“It was a very unfortunate occurrence,” Ruto said. “And I am very happy to state that some of the officials involved in the fiasco are undergoing accountability mechanisms to ensure that whoever was responsible is held to account.”
The scandal, which has deeply affected over 300 students, involved their parents paying close to Ksh749 million. Families were promised a secure scholarship deal to study in Finland and Canada.
The Uasin Gishu County government, then under former Governor Jackson Mandago, had committed to act as a guarantor.
The deal also involved a partnership with foreign universities and a local company, and the families paid their money into what was believed to be a trusted scholarship fund account.
However, the scheme began to fall apart in September 2021. Students who had traveled to Finland for their studies were suddenly faced with expulsion from their universities.
Many were at risk of deportation after it became clear that the required payments and arrangements had not been made.
This raised major concerns and led to a public outcry, revealing the extent of the financial and emotional toll on the affected families.
In a renewed plea for help, parents and youth from Uasin Gishu County held a press briefing on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
They called on Charlene Ruto, the president’s daughter, to assist in their ongoing efforts to raise money for the stranded students.
The group announced plans for a fundraising event scheduled for June 4, 2025, aimed at collecting Ksh57 million to help the victims return to school and resume their education.
The emotional appeal highlighted the desperation of families who had trusted the program and now find themselves struggling to help their children continue their studies abroad.
They hope that Charlene Ruto’s involvement will draw more public attention and support for their cause.
As investigations continue and calls for justice grow louder, the pressure is mounting on both the Kenyan and Finnish governments to offer clear answers and real support to the young lives affected by the scandal.
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