Moi University Students ‘Forced To Be Thieves’ As HELB Loan Disbursement Delays

Moi University students are a worried lot after the Higher Education Loans Board (HeLB) failed to disburse funds to them on time.

University students’ leaders say the delay might lead to many of them failing to sit for the upcoming examinations.

In a media briefing in Eldoret town on November 15, 2022, the Moi University Students’ Organization (MUSO) President Eric Kepha Opass said they have been depending on HELB loans to pay school fees.

But with the delays, they are yet to clear the school fees, which means they cannot be allowed to sit for end-semester examinations.

Moi University Students’ Organization (MUSO) led by their President Eric Kepha Opass in Eldoret on November 15, 2022. Photo/Faith Chepkemoi.

“The exams are on the corner and most of the comrades depend on the HELB funds to pay for their fees. But because they have not paid they will not be allowed to attend the exams,” Opass told journalists.

Accompanied by other student leaders, the MUSO President said with the delay in the disbursement of HELB loans to students, some of them have been forced to engage in criminal activities to survive.

“Most of the students depend on these funds to eat, pay fees and even rent. So when lacking the resources, they have no option but to resort to stealing other people’s stuff,” said Opass.

The student leaders have vowed to continue pushing HELB to release their funds and ensure a smooth stay at the university.

Different timelines

“We shall not rest until the needs of students are heard and fulfilled,” noted the MUSO President.

Most university students depend on HELB loans for upkeep and fees payment.

HELB loan Chief Executive Officer Charles Rigera had in September hinted that there might be a delay in the disbursement of loans to students this year.

This is due to what he said was a result of a delay by the Treasury to release the funds occasioned by different timelines between which the treasury operates and the school calendar.

“We have unsynchronized exchequer releases with the academic calendar,” Ringera said.

Aside from delays in the release of the loans, HELB is also worried that what is allocated to them by the government might not be enough to support all students.

Over 110,000 students had applied for the loans by September 2022, while the board had an allocation for only 60,000 students for Ksh2.6 billion.