Kabianga University Hostel On Fire [VIDEO]

Fire brigade from the County Government of Kericho and James Finlays Tea Company are currently at the scene to put out the inferno. No casualties have been reported so far.

The fire came on the same day when the university was being reopened after being temporarily closed two weeks ago after students went on a rampage over delayed Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan disbursement and planned fee hike by the government.

"Just had a brief session this morning with Education CS Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, PS for University Education Dr Beatrice Inyangala, HELB CEO Charles Ringera, Universities Fund Board CEO Mr Geoffrey Monari, KUCCPS CEO Dr Mercy Wahome and some other key Education sector stakeholders. 

"The CS has indicated that HELB disbursements, it's just a matter of time. Delays have been attributed to COVID-19 extensions in graduations, therefore, distorting the continuing student numbers being paid, and the upward surge in intakes and enrolments. Therefore, I will make a further statement once I get clear specifics, in the course of this week," Kenya Universities Students Organisation (KUSO) President Antony Manyara stated on Tuesday, April 18.

He further noted that he appealed on behalf of the Kabianga University suspended student leaders for the Ministry to intervene, to which it promised to carry out reviews in due course.

"We shall have the Student Governing Council (SGC) come to meet the PS and access the situation. On behalf of KUSO, I have clarified that no matter how broke institutions are, increasing varsity fees (an idea being fronted by Vice Chancellors' Committee) is entirely NOT an option," Manyara added.

Manyara had stated on Thursday, March 23 that the KUSO leadership agreed that an invitation be sent to all students, parents, guardians and even lecturers to join in weekly nationwide student demonstrations until HELB loans are deposited to students' accounts.

"A message be conveyed to all students across the country that KUSO's leadership has exhausted all diplomatic and peaceful mechanisms of getting the HELB loans released, and thus we are left with no other option except to invoke the ruthless comrades' power," stated Manyara in part.

He argued that KUSO has always strived to be a voice of reason between students and their corresponding institutions as well as government agencies that include HELB.

The organisation, in addition, has gained a lot of achievements through continuous engagements with government bodies.

Manyara accused the bodies concerned of "carelessly shifting blame from office to office while students mercilessly suffer" and that the meeting held by the student body on Thursday saw them resolve to hit the streets to prompt concerned offices to release the monies.

The planned protests were temporarily called off in the wake of the Pwani University bus at Kayole area in Naivasha which claimed 18 lives.

On the same day, however, President William Ruto clarified widespread concerns and reports of HELB lacking in funds, revealing that the government had disbursed the funds to the board two weeks ago.

The President had assured the students that the funds would reach them soon to ensure they continue with their studies without hitches.

KUSO President Anthony Manyara speaking to the media on March 23, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ANTHONY MANYARA