Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has issued an ultimatum to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to disburse funds to students or risk nationwide demonstrations.
The legislator's sentiments follow a series of protests by university students across the country.
They appealed to the board to give them money to facilitate their tuition fees and sustenance.
File image of Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino. |Photo| Courtesy|
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"There will be Nation wide demonstrations in all Universities in Kenya should Helb continue delaying. Helb must be disbursed as soon as possible.
"Either way comrades are going to die coz of hunger so there’s nothing to lose. Date to be communicated as soon as possible," Babu declared.
On March 9, students of Moi University took to the streets of Eldoret Town and nearby centres airing their frustration.
Read Also: Government on the Spot as HELB Delays Funds Disbursement to Students
The students alleged that the delay in disbursement of the funds had left some of them to starve.
A student who spoke to NairobiLeo.co.ke revealed that the University banned cooking in hostels in 2019. This has left the students with the only option of buying from eateries.
He stated that this has become expensive as some of them depend on the Helb loans to survive and pay fees.
In a memo released by the University on March 8, the school acknowledged the concerns by students, offering to help.
"It has come to our notice that there are several students who are starving and have been going without meals for some days," the memo read in part.
Dr J.B. Ayieko the Dean of students appealed o those in need of help to forward their names to the administration.
"This is to request all students to send details of anyone who is starving to the Dean of students through class reps and student leaders. The details include their names, registration number, telephone numbers, hostel and room number," the memo further reads.
HELB cut back on the loans availed to students from Ksh45,000 to Ksh 37,000 in December 2020.
File image of the Moi University Main Campus, Kesses administration building. |Photo| Courtesy|
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