HELB TALE...

By Steve Macharia

The uncertainty in campus due to delayed disbursement of government loan through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has re-ignited students’ activism at a time when Main Campus faces myriad of challenges.

Last week’s bold move by ordinary MUSO members to seek audience with Dean of Students may help bring to the attention of the university the academic cost of going through the semester penniless. By the end of their meeting, a five-member team was formed to join the SGC in pushing the government through relevant departments and organs to facilitate the release of the funds. However, a lot remains desired on how the group intends to undertake the activity.

What is more interesting are the hard-line positions being taken by the two sides making the group. So far, the MUSO Chair has indicated he will not join a delegation with some members of the students’ fraternity present in the group. The opposition of the Chairman to this endeavor cannot be taken lightly. First, he is the only MUSO representative in the University Council. His presentation to the council meeting scheduled this week will determine the eventual end of the undertakings by the group.

A close conversant with affairs of the SGC said a silent rivalry among senior members of the SGC may cost the group the ‘priced tour’ as only a few are coming forward to push the university in seeking intervention measures.

The other pertinent issue is the timelines for undertaking the event. While the group plans to visit senior government officials where appointments are key, no one has come out clearly to state whether any contact has been made with any office. The question that arises is: how possible can the group manage to meet these officials without any proper itinerary? Is there something the SGC is not telling this group? While the Dean is said to have agreed to the groups suggestions with a rider that no national media should be involved; how will it augur with this undertaking assuming the group receives no audience with the expected government officials? The media concern was said to have been raised also by the VC who said it would not do good to the image of the university with his myriad sponsors and ‘friends’ both locally and internationally

The 26TH SGC formally wrote to the VC to seek his intervention on the matter last week. The letter, delivered by the MUSO Secretary General and the Academics Director urged the Vice-Chancellor to engage actively with the government and ensure students get the loans as early as possible.

The vice-chancellor, though not opposed to the petition is said to have requested students to give more time as the university is set to hold a council meeting this week to deliberate on the issue, among other items set for discussion. However, the students leaders while accepting the extended duration were adamant on the issue of students’ sustenance, arguing most students used their survival funds to pay fee hence are beginning to feel the punch.

The writer is a 3rd year Journalism student and a former 3rd Eye managing editor.