'I don't care'! Victim of Sh1 billion Finland scandal erupts in court
Rift Valley
By
Daniel Chege
| Aug 31, 2025
A court in Nakuru was treated to drama on Friday after one of the victims of the Sh1.1 billion Finland and Canada Education programme scandal case lost his composure.
Christopher Rotich could not hide his frustration as he testified against Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and county officials Meshack Rono and Joshua Lelei before Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege.
Rotich called Mandago and his co-accused thieves for allegedly stealing his Sh1.17 million, the money he lost in the programme in 2022.
However, when Mandago’s lawyer Stephen Kibungei challenged him to produce evidence, Rotich snapped and refused to answer some of the questions.
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Asked how old his son, the intended beneficiary, was, the witness rudely replied, “He was born in 2000, minus the years and you will get his age!”
Rotich got more frustrated as he did not have answers to the majority of the questions to which he rudely replied that he did not know.
Things turned south when Kibungei repeated the question on how much Rotich had paid for his son to go to study in Finland.
“I have already answered that question. I cannot answer it anymore!” Rotich retorted as he became agitated.
What followed was a back and forth between Kibungei and Rotich to the point that latter not only refused to answer questions but also asked Kibungei questions, to the surprise of the court.
Kibungei pressed Rotich to explain to the court why he was in possession of a bank statement from Uasin Gishu Overseas Education Trust fund account
“I may not remember how I got the statement,” he answered.
Asked if he was urged to add more money to facilitate his son’s travel, Rotich said he refused because it was criminals who were running the programme.
“The criminals told me to add money. I said I will not add money but I heard that there were those who added money and their children travelled,” he testified.
When asked another question, he refused to answer and shouted. Ndege attempted to intervene and calm Rotich down, but even his intervention was met with rudeness.
The magistrate warned Rotich that if he continued to be rude, refuse to answer questions or shout, he would take action.
“I do not care. Arrest me and put me inside!” he shouted.
Ndege thereby directed the court orderly to escort Rotich out and adjourned the session for about 10 minutes.
When the court resumed, things were different and Rotich, who was previously a witness, was put in the dock in a court that had added orderlies.
Ndege found Rotich guilty of criminal contempt of court for causing disruption during his testimony and being rude.
“Having been warmed by the court of the consequences, the witness decided to continue with insolence. I hereby convict him for his behaviour and find him guilty of criminal contempt,” ruled Ndege.
Having discovered that he was in hot soup, Rotich mitigated and asked for forgiveness. He said he was willing to testify while respecting the court.
“I am very sorry if I wronged the court,” he said.
The court discharged him and he was allowed to continue testifying,
The trial will continue on September 16.