First year university and TVET students from different institutions across the country have not received funds from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
Speaking to the media, a section of students from Kisii University expressed frustrations over the HELB loans delays saying they risk sitting for exams due to fee balances.
This is despite a communication by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu that the funds will be released on Tuesday, November 7.
Further, the students explained that they not only lack fees but also other necessities like rent and food stuff.
“I have been awarded a loan of Ksh.129,000 and a scholarship of Ksh.13,000 but the money has not billed to the account. So how will we sit for the exams without paying the school fees,” said Christopher, a first-year student at Kisii University.
Additionally, another student said they have been refreshing the HELB portal and indicates that he has not applied for loan funding.
“We were previously told that the scholarship is more than the HELB loan but right now if you log into the portal the loan is more than the scholarship. How will we repay all this loan in future?’ questioned the third student.
Also, some of the students have been forced to seek shelter from their friends since they do not have upkeep money and their houses have been locked.
“We take tea in the morning, we forfeit lunch and sometimes we take supper,” said the fourth student.
“We are going through hard times, my house has been locked and I have been staying at my friend’s place waiting for the government to disburse the HELB funds so that I can pay the rent,” added the fifth student.
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Machogu HELB Promise
In a press release on Friday November 3, CS Machogu said the funds will be sent to their respective universities and student accounts starting Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
“The Higher Education Loans Board has finalized the processing of loans for First Year students in universities and TVETs under the New Higher Education Funding Model.
Consequently, the Ministry wishes to inform successful applicants that the funds will be disbursed to their respective universities and student accounts starting Tuesday 7 November 2023,” read the press release.
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Further, CS Machogu directed the applicants to ensure that their bank information is correct to ensure easy disbursement of the loans.
“Students are advised to ensure that their bank details, as provided in the application for the loans, are correct and up to date,” it added.
His announcement was preceded by demonstrations from Multimedia University students and their counterparts from Machakos University.
Earlier, Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Paul Ongili, alias Babu Owino, had shared a video wondering why the student leaders were quiet when the government had not released the HELB funds.
