The emergence of Jackson Mandago's name as one of the possible persons of interest in the Finland Scholarship scam (after all he was governor when the scheme was launched) is bound to raise political temperatures considerably at a time when the Ruto administration is so shaky and under so much pressure.
And as the ongoing demonstrations in Uasin Gishu have clearly shown, there is clearly some kind of "protection from prosecution" from the government and its' agencies, otherwise arrests would have already been made by now, after all the public outcry.
It is instructive that in the past, crafty Mandago has fallen back on his populous Nandi community for "protection". (Ruto's biological father is Kipsigis the most populous Kalenjin tribe followed by the Nandis, but his mother is Nandi.)
Fearing that he would be rigged out, Mandago did not stop there and in a coded message to the Jubilee party high command, shortly before polling day, told Ruto that he would convince the entire Nandi community to vote for Raila instead of Uhuru/Ruto if they noticed that the initial votes cast on polling day were going against Mandago. It worked and the then governor won re-election.
This tells us that Mandago is a fighter and will not give in easily in any battle. This sets the stage for a battle royale even before the issue of justice for the parents who lost their money in the Finland scam is confronted. Simply put, if Mandago wins once again, it is unlikely that any justice will be dispensed.
Locals in Uasin Gishu are keenly away of all this dynamics and it has raised suspicions and intensified scrutiny on Mandago's possible involvement in the scandal. And at a time when the public is increasingly demanding transparency and accountability from all their leaders, especially when it comes to matters as crucial as education and its' funding.
Mandago's influence within the populous Nandi community adds another layer of complexity to this brewing storm. Ruto would have to carefully consider the potential consequences before making any decisions that could jeopardize his standing with this influential Kalenjin group.
It is also evident that Mandago's political aspirations and strong support base make it challenging for Ruto to simply dismiss or undermine him.
The Uasin Gishu parents deserve answers, justice, and assurance that their children's educational opportunities are not being compromised by corrupt practices. It is high time for those responsible for this scandal be held accountable for their actions, whoever they are and whatever the political consequences may be.
SEE ALSO:
Mercy Tarus exposes Mandago who asked for ATM cards
Revealed: How Mandago Outwitted DP Ruto And Deep State in 2017 elections
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