HELB Finally Releases Ksh3.2 Billion Loan for First and Second-Year Students.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed the allocation of Ksh3.2 billion to support the upkeep of first-year and second-year university students for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba provided an update on Tuesday evening, a day after university students staged protests to demand the immediate release of the funds, stating that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) had disbursed the amount.
According to a notice obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, Ogamba conveyed that the funds had been transferred to students’ accounts, with each recipient set to receive between Ksh40,000 and Ksh60,000.
He further elaborated that the government had disbursed a total of Ksh3.32 billion by January 31, 2025, specifically for first-year and second-year students during the ongoing academic year. The allocations, processed through HELB, were aimed at covering students’ upkeep.
Delayed Disbursement Triggers Student Protests
The disbursement followed intense protests by students, occurring just two days prior, when learners stormed HELB offices at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi, demanding the immediate release of their capitation funds.
Frustrated by the prolonged delay, the agitated students managed to overpower security guards and attempted to gain forceful entry into the premises.
Law enforcement officers swiftly intervened to disperse the demonstrators and prevent any possible disruptions within the Central Business District (CBD).
Meanwhile, another contingent of students from Kenyatta University took to Thika Road, blocking a section of the busy highway for several hours. Their actions led to significant traffic disruptions, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.
HELB Responds to the Crisis
HELB’s lending manager, King’ori Ndegwa, was compelled to address the students’ grievances, attributing the delay to an ongoing case at the High Court.
He assured the learners that the funds would be disbursed before the week’s end and specified that the distribution would follow the previous funding model.
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Ndegwa further disclosed that Ksh3 billion had been released before the week concluded, although he clarified that only 180,000 students had been directly impacted by the delays.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ogamba additionally clarified that the released funds had been allocated as part of the financial framework established in July 2024 for the current fiscal year.
He emphasized that the disbursement aligned with the government’s budgetary and appropriation plans for the higher education sector.
HELB Finally Releases Ksh3.2 Billion Loan for First and Second-Year Students
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