University students protest over HELB delay.
Due to the Higher Education Loans Board’s (HELB)(HELB) delayed distribution of funding, university students in Rongai protested on Tuesday. They took to the streets, clogging Magadi Road to block the main entrance to Ongata Rongai Town in Kajiado County. They sang, set tires on fire, and yelled slogans like “the struggle continues” during the demonstration to convey their anger.
After altercations with the students in response to the protests, security personnel deployed tear gas to scatter the masses. Students from low-income backgrounds have faced substantial problems as a result of delays in grant disbursement, despite government commitments to release HELB money on schedule.
This prolonged issue has gained attention from national leaders, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has called for the government to release funds promptly to assist students facing economic challenges. Owino highlighted that students are suffering from hunger, inability to pay fees, lack of funds for food and accommodation, and transportation difficulties due to the delays.
The lawmaker urged Treasury CS Professor Ndung’u to work with HELB to expedite the release of funds, emphasizing that the delay is causing significant hardship for students.
Antony Manyara, the current president of the Kenya Universities Students Organization (KUSO), previously reported that the Higher Education Loans Board had agreed to allocate the funds this week, offering some hope for the affected students.
University students protest over HELB delay.
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