Tension gripped Eldoret town on Tuesday as parents and students affected by the stalled Uasin Gishu Finland/Canada overseas education programme staged fresh protests, demanding an immediate refund of the millions of shillings they paid for studies abroad.

The demonstrators, who have waited for nearly four years hoping for justice, first marched to the Uasin Gishu County Government headquarters but were unable to access the premises. They later proceeded to the North Rift regional offices of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), where they were received by the officer in charge.

Speaking to journalists outside the county headquarters, the victims, led by parent Joakim Rotich, expressed disappointment with the recent Nakuru High Court ruling that acquitted former Uasin Gishu Governor and current Senator Jackson Mandago and other accused persons in the case.

Rotich said parents had invested their life savings in the programme with the hope of securing brighter futures for their children, only for the dream to collapse.

He revealed that he paid KSh 1.2 million for his child, who had secured admission to the University of British Columbia in Canada.

According to Rotich, it was during the final payment, which was allegedly meant for accommodation, that parents began realizing the overseas education programme was facing serious challenges.

"Since then, my child has remained at home as we struggle to understand what really happened. I was eventually forced to sell a piece of land and my cows so that I could take my child to another institution because I could not continue watching the future slip away," he said.

Rotich insisted that the victims were no longer interested in promises but wanted a full refund of their money.

"We want our money back because it is our hard-earned money. Those responsible must be compelled to refund every cent," he said.

While acknowledging efforts by a group of elders seeking to resolve the matter through an Alternative Justice System, Rotich questioned whether the initiative would deliver justice, noting that it had come too late.

He said some affected parents had died from stress while others were battling mental health challenges after losing their investments.

Another victim, Brian Kimutai, who had been admitted to Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada, said he also paid KSh 1.2 million but never travelled.

He lamented that four years later, he remains at home without any clear future.

"We waited anxiously for the court's ruling, but our case was thrown out after Senator Mandago was acquitted. We are devastated," Kimutai said.

He accused leaders of failing the families who had trusted the programme.

"We sold property, borrowed loans and sacrificed everything believing this opportunity would transform our lives. Instead, we have been left suffering while our dreams have been shattered," he said.

Kimutai also dismissed claims that some parents' money had been used to facilitate students who managed to travel abroad.

"Who authorized our money to be used to sponsor someone else's education? We never gave such consent. We deposited our money into the trustee account because we trusted our leaders," he said.

He warned that the demonstrations would continue until all affected families receive refunds.

"The only language our leaders understand is demonstrations. We will continue protesting until a lasting solution is found. We want our money back and we will not relent."

Another parent, Esther Kemboi, described the court's decision as heartbreaking, saying the families had been left without justice.

"We are deeply frustrated by the ruling that found there was no case to answer. President William Ruto, where are we supposed to get justice? We elected leaders to serve us, not to leave us helpless after losing our money," she said.

Responding to the protesters, North Rift EACC Regional Manager Kuntai Ole Tingisha said the commission had already completed its investigations and forwarded the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which had the mandate to pursue the criminal case.

He advised the affected parents and students to explore legal options in higher courts if they were dissatisfied with the Nakuru High Court ruling.

The latest demonstrations signal that the controversial Finland/Canada overseas education programme remains a painful chapter for dozens of families in Uasin Gishu, many of whom say they lost millions of shillings, property and years of hope while waiting for opportunities that never materialized. With emotions running high, the victims have vowed to sustain pressure until they receive full refunds and accountability from those they hold responsible.