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University students protest delay in release of Helb loan

University students protest delay in release of Helb loan
University of Nairobi students chant outside the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) offices in Nairobi yesterday to protest the delay of funds. The students paralysed transport on various routes in the city. PHOTO/Andrew Kasuku

Transport in Nairobi was yesterday brought to a standstill  as university students picketed over the delay by the government to disburse loans, a situation they said has turned  them into beggars.

Drawn from the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University, the charged students engaged police in running battles.

They said they have waited  for  over a month for Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) to disburse funds to cover their tuition, accommodation and daily sustenance but nothing has been forthcoming from the government.

“I have had a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba over three times and anytime I visit his office he only gives false promises. We are also surprised that he has developed a divide and rule style of management where some universities have had their monies disbursed with others being forced to wait. We will be in these streets until money reflects on our accounts,” said the President of  Kenya University Students Association Anthony Manyara.

Kenyatta University students staged demonstrations along the Thika Superhighway, blocking a section of the busy road and causing a major traffic snarl-up. The protest came barely a week after a similar demonstration by the same group.

Manyara said the situation has made it difficult for students even to attend classes.

“ Class attendance has been very low. You walk in a lecture room and you will find no one attending the class. With the current economic hardships students are here trying to look for some money to eat. They can’t go back to their homes since their parents also have nothing to give them,’ he said.

According to Manyara, most students may actually not sit for their exams since they have not been attending classes.

“ About 80 per cent will not sit for exams, this means if the situation is not addressed on time they will be forced to stay in school for more years,” he said.

Manyara said the situation has been brought about by the confusion over the controversial funding model.

Helb attributed the disbursement delays to budgetary constraints, increased demand for financial aid and loan defaulters.

 Addressing the complaints, Helb Lending Manager King’ori Ndegwa revealed that Sh3.1 billion had been released, with approximately 180,000 students still awaiting their disbursements.

 The disbursement delays stem from a court decision that halted the implementation of the new funding model, compelling Helb to temporarily revert to the old system until the legal battle is resolved.

In a statement, Helb said it would fund only first and second year students as it awaits an appeal against the High Court, which suspended the new model.

The government introduced the new model in 2023 in what it termed as trying to address the spiraling costs of university education but it has been met with opposition with several parties doubting its equality.

In December last year, the High court declared the new funding model as unconstitutional, ruling that it was discriminatory and failed to address the adequate needs of the students.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Chacha Mwita stated that the model had been implemented without adequate public participation, violating students’ legitimate expectations.

“The government has a constitutional responsibility to fund public universities. Passing this burden onto parents is a violation of the Constitution,” he said.

He further ruled that public consultation should have been conducted to incorporate citizens’ views before the model was introduced.

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