Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has called for daily protests at universities across Kenya, starting Monday, October 14. His plea follows prolonged delays in the disbursement of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds, a critical source of financial support for university students.
In a post on X on Friday, October 11, Babu Owino expressed his frustration over the situation, accusing HELB of deliberately withholding funds. He urged students to mobilize and stage peaceful protests until the issue is resolved. “HELB has intentionally delayed funds meant to educate our comrades, and as a result, they must suffer,” Owino stated.
Babu’s call to action comes after several complaints from students about the ongoing delays in receiving their HELB disbursements. Many students depend on this funding to cover their basic living and educational expenses, such as rent and tuition fees.
Growing Tension
The demand for protests echoes recent unrest witnessed at Nyandarua National Polytechnic, where students took to the streets over a fee hike and the cancellation of HELB applications. Students’ president John Eric led the demonstrations, which disrupted transport along the Nyahururu-Olkalou Highway. Eric voiced students’ frustrations, stating, “We are witnessing these riots due to issues concerning fees and HELB applications that were just cancelled over the weekend.”
The delay of HELB funds have had a devastating impact on students. In a viral TikTok video, a university student, sitting on a mattress outdoors, revealed how he had been evicted for unpaid rent due to the HELB delay. “The landlords have asked us to leave. I have nowhere to sleep, no food, and no gas to cook,” the student lamented.
Students Stranded Over HELB Delays
These protests and complaints come amid significant changes to the government’s university funding model. In August, the Treasury allocated Ksh29.7 billion to the Ministry of Education, including Ksh5.1 billion specifically for HELB. The government touted this new model as a solution to the debt crisis plaguing public universities.
However, the delays in disbursing the funds raise concerns about the government’s commitment to student welfare. Despite the financial allocations, students continue to suffer, waiting for funds that seem to be caught up in bureaucracy.
