Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has revealed that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) does not have sufficient funds to provide loans to students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campuses.
Speaking before a parliamentary committee on April 24, 2025, the CS argued that the budget in the last financial year allocated Ksh 84.5 billion to HELB, which was short of Ksh 138.5 billion.
“I would like to inform Parliament that HELB provides estimates for students new and continuing with the estimates based on information provided by universities and other institutions under the Ministry of Education, with the budget allocated to HELB for funding students usually for a predetermined number of students in universities and other institutions,” he said.
The CS added that between 2014 and 2019, HELB disbursed Ksh 468 million in loans to KMTC students through funding support from USAID.
Ogamba: HELB Falls Short of Funding
Further, the Education CS stated that the Ministry of Health provided resources through which HELB supported KMTC students.
“If HELB is allocated the function of supporting all higher learning institutions’ students, funding must follow, and it is very clear that we have not refused to fund students in higher learning institutions, with the challenge remaining on budget, that is the elephant in the room,” Ogamba said.
In his statement, he mentioned that some universities and training institutions are not under the Ministry’s jurisdiction.
Also Read: How to Appeal HELB Loans and Scholarships for Unsatisfied Students
KMTC Boss Speaks
Dr. Kelly Oluoch, the Chief Executive Officer of KMTC, informed parliament that the Constitution mandates financial support for students at the institution, which has 68,000 students and 90 campuses nationwide.
He raised concerns about the college’s exclusion from regular funding, stressing the constitutional principles of equity, equality, and non-discrimination as outlined in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
He further argued that by denying funding to students in institutions under the Ministry of Education, HELB may be neglecting its constitutional responsibility to provide equal educational opportunities.
Also Read: Why Your Choice of University Matters Under New University Funding Model
More Trouble for TVET Students
According to a recent report by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), students attending private universities will not be eligible for government scholarships under the new model, which could further discourage enrollment in private institutions.
Additionally, the report recommended the need for increased government support for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund Board (UFB) especially for TVET courses.
Further, students who enroll in institutions with higher fees may end up bearing additional financial burdens due to variations in tuition fees across different universities.
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