The Kenya University Student Organisation (KUSO), through its chairperson, Jessy Saruni (pictured), has called upon the Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ezekiel Machogu, to ensure the fast-tracking of disbursement of student loans by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

The Chairperson urged the CS to guarantee an increment of the amount of money released over and above the loans that the university students had applied for in the beginning of the new semester.

“The main agenda of this meeting is to address the challenges which students face as they undertake their studies,” said Saruni.

He stated that some of the challenges include; mental health issues, pending school fees balances, inadequate accommodation and insecurity within the university area.

Saruni said that most of the students are denied the opportunity of sitting for their end of year exams due to pending fees balances that is caused mostly by the delay in the disbursement of the HELB loans, which most students largely depend on.

He cited that the Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to lack of school fees since most of the parents lost their jobs during the period and are currently unable to pay their children’s school fees.

At the same time, Juliet Naishurua, a philanthropist and a Kenyan citizen has offered to work closely with KUSO in order to ensure the needy students in the universities are able to complete their studies.

– KNA