By Shadrack Nyakoe
University students have said they will protest by marching to the Higher Education loans Board (HELB) offices in Nairobi over a delay to get their HELB loans.
They have given HELB a one week ultimatum.
Speaking during a press conference at a Nairobi Hotel, the student leaders asked the Board to credit student’s accounts with cash or else they will paralyze the board’s activities.
They met under the umbrella- Kenya University Students organization (KUSO).
If the students indeed make good their threat and march to Anniversary Towers which is the headquarter of Helb, there will be major traffic disruption since past protests have led to running battles between the police and the students.
Anniversary Tower is on University Way, Nairobi.
KUSO secretary General Emmanuel Sarabhai condemned HELB for delaying the cash yet it’s a loan.
“Of what use is the money when it comes at the end of the semester? This forces most students to defer because at the time, HELB has come but they are told in their respective Universities that they did not pay fees on time,” he said.
Sarabhai, a student at Moi University in Eldoret added that HELB should credit the accounts of Moi University students because they will be opening school on 23rd April.
“There are people who need the money to do shopping, use it for transport and buy books. Money should be given to students a week before schools open,” he said.
KUSO also condemned HELB for immediately demanding money from the students as soon as they finish college.
Last month, Education CS Amina Mohamed said HELB will use the police to arrest those who default.
Several students and Kenyans laughed at her saying it is not practical.
According to HELB, there are 74,000 defaulters who owe the board Sh7.2 billion.
HELB says on its website that in accordance with the current Cost Sharing Policy, a student is required to pay Kshs.50, 000/- per year to train at a public university.
Out of this amount, HELB can award a maximum loan and bursary of Kshs.50, 000/- and a bursary of Kshs.8, 000.