Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is calling for daily protests at universities across the country starting Monday, October 14, following the troubling delay in the disbursement of scholarship funds.
The former University of Nairobi student leader’s announcement, made via a post on X on Friday, October 11, highlights the growing desperation among students who depend on the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for financial support.
The turmoil surrounding HELB has escalated, with Owino accusing the board of intentionally stalling the release of funds. “HELB has intentionally decided to delay funds meant to educate our comrades, and as a result, they must suffer,” he declared.
His plea aims to mobilise student leaders nationwide to organise peaceful demonstrations until financial assistance is restored.
University of Nairobi Main Campus.
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UON
Babu’s call for protests comes just days after protests at Nyandarua National Polytechnic, where students took to the streets against a fee hike and the cancellation of HELB applications. Led by student president John Eric, the protests disrupted transport along the Nyahururu-Olkalou Highway.
The urgency of Babu’s call resonates with the recent protests that erupted at Nyandarua National Polytechnic, where students voiced their grievances over a fee hike and the cancellation of HELB applications.
Led by student president John Eric, demonstrators took to the streets on Monday, blocking the Nyahururu-Olkalou Highway. Eric decried the increased financial burdens imposed by the administration, saying, “Some riots are witnessed today because of some issues concerning fees and regarding this, we are concerned about the HELB applications that were just cancelled over the weekend.”
Babu’s call for action comes in the wake of numerous complaints regarding HELB’s sluggish disbursement of funds. Just last week, a university student shared his distress on TikTok, revealing the dire consequences of the delayed funds.
Seated on a mattress outside, he lamented being evicted from his home for unpaid rent, stating, “Disburse HELB into our accounts. The landlords have asked us to leave, and we have nowhere to sleep. I am stranded. I don’t have food or a house, and my gas is also depleted.”
The situation is exacerbated by the recent changes to the government’s funding model, which has faced opposition. Despite this, the model is aimed at streamlining funding in universities in order to end the debt burden that has struck most public universities.
In August, the Treasury allocated Ksh29.7 billion to the Ministry of Education, which included Ksh5.1 billion earmarked for HELB to assist students pursuing higher education. However, the sluggish release of these funds raises questions about the government’s commitment to student welfare, as many struggle to meet basic needs.
Despite these allocations, the ongoing delays have left students questioning the effectiveness of HELB. With essential funds not reaching them in a timely manner, many students face a grim reality of hunger and homelessness.
Babu’s statement resonates with countless students, who are losing patience with the current system. “Without HELB a comrade can’t buy food, without HELB a comrade can’t pay rent, a comrade can’t go to class and can’t survive,” he stated emphatically.
The administration block at Moi University in Eldoret
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Moi University