Robert Buke Wafula is pleading with the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to cancel hefty loans imposed on him since 1985 despite wrongful arrest.
In a letter seen by The Kenya Times, Wafula says that he was expelled from the University of Nairobi after being wrongfully accused of being a spy for Libya.
Following the incident, the 61-year-old was jailed for five years. He was released after a court ruled that he was a victim of state terror.
Subsequently, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, while still in power, apologized to all the victims and announced a Ksh10 billion compensation, which Wafula said he was yet to receive.
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“As time would have it, it has since been established by the state after political transitions and Truth, Justice and Reconciliation processes that I was a victim of state terror.
“Former President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered this apology in parliament before the expiry of his term. He proceeded to announce the allocation of ten billion to be given out to us as compensation. The cash is yet to reach me,” he said.
Also Read: No Permanent Jobs for Teachers, HELB Allocation Slashed in Latest Govt Proposals
Wafula Details His Struggle with Huge HELB Loans
Wafula lamented that the education loans board has continued to impose the loan on him which has grown to huge amounts in addition to interest added while he was in prison and in exile.
“How much money was I making while in prison? We were being paid ten cents per day as salary for weaving ropes from coconut tree backs. The total amount was less than one hundred shillings for the entire period,” explained Wafula.
He went on to state that HELB has enlisted him on the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB), forcing him to seek alternative high-interest lenders to support his businesses.
The 61-year-old has explained that one of the loans he took will force him to pay Ksh400,000 in interest after six months.
“Further action was taken against me by HELB by being enlisted on CRB, a move that forced me to raise funds from shylocks and microcredit enterprises who charge criminal interests to support my kiosks.
“Being a non-professional, I have taken loans from these sources and paid back at over six percent per month. The latest is Ksh1,250,000 from Baraka Credit based at Utalii House. At the end of the paying period, six months, I would have paid them an interest of around 400,000,” he added.
Also Read: Reprieve for HELB Loan Defaulters as Govt Announces Payment Deal
Latest HELB reforms
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u on Wednesday, June 19, wrote to the National Assembly proposing a Ksh8.3 billion reduction on funds allocated to the State Department of Higher Education and Research.
The move will see the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) lose Ksh3.2 billion, the Differentiated Unit Cost reduced by Ksh2.1 billion, and the Infrastructure Projects slashed by Ksh3 billion.
Earlier, HELB announced 80 percent penalty waivers for defaulters with accrued interests to allow them to pay back the loan as a lumpsum.
“We’re slashing down those penalties so you can smackdown those arrears. Pay your loan arrears in a lump sum and enjoy a waiver of up to 80% on accrued penalties,” HELB said in a statement.
Beneficiary defaulters according to the HELB’s website are penalized for failing to pay their loans every month.
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