'Mwizi' Chants Rent Air As Angry Youth Refuse To Be Addressed By Mandago In Eldoret

• Uasin Gishu senator Jackson Mandago was among leaders who welcomed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to Uasin Gishu
• The leaders made stopovers to address their supporters as they headed for the closing of the 8th Devolution Conference
• In Eldoret, the crowd became hostile when Mandago stood out of his sunroof and kept heckling, making it impossible for him to address them

Eldoret - Uasin Gishu senator Jackson Mandago has had a long week to forget in his political career.

The former county chief was arrested on Wednesday, August 16, at his residence in Eldoret town and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations regional office in Nakuru.

Mandago was under pressure following calls for a refund by affected families about the controversial Finland and Canada scholarship programme.

He spent a night in custody at Nakuru Central Police Station before he was arraigned on Thursday, August 17.

Senior Principal Magistrate Alloys Ngege later granted Mandago a cash bail of KSh 500,000 or a bond of KSh 2 million and surety of a similar amount.

In his ruling, Ndege deferred plea-taking, arguing that one key suspect in the case was not present as they were charged jointly.

Crowd gets hostile at Mandago

On Friday, August 18, the first-term senator was among a host of leaders that welcomed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to Uasin Gishu.

The leaders made stopovers to address supporters as Gachagua headed to close the 8th Devolution Conference.

In Eldoret, the lawmaker was met by a hostile crowd that did not allow him to address them.

A video from the event shows the lawmaker waving to the crowd as they heckled at him.

After some time, chants of 'Mwizi! Mwizi!" grew louder, forcing the lawmaker to retreat into his vehicle through the sunroof.

This was Mandago's first interaction with a crowd at a political meeting since his arrest, and later released on bail.

What Ruto said about scholarship saga

Meanwhile, President William Ruto warned Uasin Gishu leaders embroiled in the Finland scholarship scam to return the money they defrauded the parents and students.

Coming at the back of disquiet in Uasin Gishu due to the scam in which Senator Mandago is implicated, Ruto said those who embezzled money belonging to the students should take accountability.

Speaking in Eldoret on Wednesday, August 16, the president said that when investigations are done, those guilty of squandering the money will also face the consequences.

"Investigations are ongoing. Whoever squandered this money should be ready to return it. Nobody should be cajoled; everyone must get their money back. After investigations are done, I will see how we can help those students affected by this. Those who swindled the cash should be held accountable," the president said.