The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has bowed to pressure and released the university students’ delayed disbursement.
Several months after applying, the students have yet to receive their loans.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino threatened to mobilize them for protests this week last Friday.
Owino gave HELB and the National Treasury a seven-day deadline to release the funds in the viral video.
Release HELB to COMRADES or WE Release on you. Comrades to prepare for mega Demonstrations across the country next week on THURSDAY should TREASURY and HELB refuse to Disburse MONEY to the University students. Students are dying of Hunger.” Tweeted Babu.
After a few hours, the board tweeted that they had made payments to a number of applicants.
HELB’s action comes in response to MPs’ inquiries about whether universities could allow students to sit for exams.
Pamela Odhiambo, a Migori Woman representative, stated that the student’s failure to pay fees as a result of delayed HELB disbursement was not their fault.
Odhiambo asked if University Education Principal Secretary Simon Nabukwesi could persuade Vice-Chancellors to be more lenient with students.
However, Nabukwesi stated during the budget policy statement submissions that this was untenable.
Babu Announces Mega Demonstration Over HELB Delays
He stated that universities operate differently and that it would take time to persuade all Vcs to allow the students to take the exams.
HELB finance manager Mary Wachira urged Treasury to allocate the funds during the first half of the fiscal year, between January and June.
She went on to say that the funding is insufficient and that most students do not receive it.
HELB gives needy students between Sh35,000 and Sh60,000 per year, with the amount determined by their background.
