Ruto Dismisses Reports Of Cash Shortage At HELB

President William Ruto on Thursday, March 23 clarified widespread concerns and reports that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is lacking in funds.

Speaking while addressing students at the Kisii National Polytechnic during the first day of his three-day visit to Kisii, Nyamira and Migori Counties, the Head of State revealed 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.

“I want to announce that in the last two weeks, we have allocated funds to the HELB now you can continue with your studies without constraints," Ruto stated to the applause of students at Kisii Polytechnic. 

"All those (eligible) for the loan will get the funds so that you can continue with education without hiccups."

He also added that the State is currently finalising plans to hire 2,000 additional teachers for TVET institutions.

Ruto's assurance comes after HELB CEO Charles Ringera on Wednesday, March 22 told Parliament that approximately 140,000 public university students had missed out on HELB loans, in the current fiscal year, since the loans board had depleted its cash reserves.

Ringera added that HELB would have to wait for the national exchequer to release Ksh5.7 billion for it to remit the loans to the university students who mostly use the advance to pay for their tuition fees and upkeep.

“Currently we have 140,000 students in TVETs and universities that we have not been able to fund to the tune of Ksh.5.7 billion because we have run out of the budget that we had presented to the Treasury of Ksh.4.5 billion,” Ringera told Parliament's Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance (PICEG).

He accused the State also failed to cede to a request by HELB to cover the cash shortage via an additional budget. In the current fiscal year, HELB received Ksh14.8 billion from the exchequer for the disbursement of student loans.

Successful loan applicants are eligible to get between Ksh35,000 and Ksh60,000 annually.

On the eve of the Azimio la Umoja mass protests on Monday, March 20, Kenya University Student Organization (KUSO) President Anthony Manyara explained that the student leaders had decided to convene a meeting in Nairobi to address the challenges affecting university students as they go about with their studies, further accusing President William Ruto's government of the accelerating issues affecting the students, including HELB.

"It took place because many of your children are in high school and university. They are postponing meals...they are not eating because the government has refused to disburse HELB (funds), it is even to blame for the rise of LGBTQ issues in Kenya, this government is to blame for even the rise of gonorrhoea in Nairobi, it is to blame for very many social vices that we have seen in this country," he blasted.

President William Ruto had hinted at doing away with HELB, which has been the go-to funding for millions of university students for more than 10 years and replacing it with a new funding alternative.

To improve the education system in the country, the government is planning to introduce National Skill and Funding Council (NSFC) which will be better than HELB and increase funding by 45 per cent. It will also absorb the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) funding.

Kenyans at HELB offices. /PEOPLE DAILY