NO HELB TILL AUGUST

By Jally Kihara & M. Doyo

Students are expected to experience tough economic times this semester following the shocking revelation that Helb will not release funds as earlier expected. Reliable sources has it that the Higher Education Loans Board is not in a position to finance the continuing students who are under the accelerated academic programme.

According to the Secretary General Seth Dikembe and his academics director counterpart, Mr. Mururu, they met the Higher Education Loans Board manager who categorically stated that the body will not be able to release the funds since it receives finances according to government’s financial year - thus they have to wait for the next financial year. This comes amid comrades high expectations that the funds would be made available soon to enable them cope up with the already difficult state of living due to high cost of living.

In an interview with the The 3rd Eye, the dean of students, Mr. Muriithi said his office was not in a position to officially communicate on the matter since he was not aware when the students’ financier would release the loan to its clients (students). Mr. Muriithi, however, confirmed that Higher Education Loans Board is fully aware that Moi University students are in session since the Vice Chancellor wrote to them (Helb) about the changed academic dates. The experienced dean of students expressed his regrets over the current students financial crisis but he came out clear that there is nothing the administration can do over the issue,

“The university operates independently as well as the Higher Education Loans Board and there is no way any one of them can interfere with the operations of the other. It is up to you, its clients, to negotiate with it and express your distress.” Mr. Muriithi told the 3rd Eye team during the interview in his office.

At personnal level, Mr. Muriithi is optimistic that the Helb is soliciting for funds in order to cater for the changed academic years in public universities and urged students to exercise patience.

It is now clear that the administration cannot be drawn into the students-Helb crisis and upon these developments a group of students drawn from all the schools are on way to try and look into the matter.

Sources familiar with the agenda of the group confided to us that it is planning to meet the Chief academic officer today and try to get more directions on the matter. The group will try to exploit all the avenues possible and pressurize the government to release the vital funds to comrades.

Among the options available to the group is a collection of signatures from the students’ body which will be attached to a complaints letter and be sent to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Higher Education.

The students’ loan offers such a critical financial support to most students in universities-especially public-since many of them depends entirely on these funds for their fee payment and upkeep and its delay strikes a sharp imbalance on a student’s life.