normal activities and traffic flow in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) came to a halt as University of Nairobi (UoN) students stormed Anniversary Towers, where the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) offices are located. The students were demanding the immediate disbursement of their loans, which had been delayed for weeks.
In response to the protest, HELB announced that it would revert to the old loan disbursement system for first and second-year students while awaiting the outcome of an appeal against a High Court ruling that suspended the new university funding model.
Despite this announcement, uncertainty remained as HELB struggled to address the growing frustration among students. The confusion surrounding the suspension of the new funding model only added to the tension, with many learners left in financial distress.
A day before the protest, the University of Nairobi Students’ Association, led by President Rocha Madzayo, had issued a press statement warning of the planned demonstration. The student leader emphasized that the delay in loan disbursement was affecting not just UoN students but thousands of university students across the country.
“This is not just about us; students from various institutions are struggling financially because of these delays. Many are at risk of missing course registration deadlines, and others are unable to meet basic needs,” Madzayo stated.
On the day of the protest, students gathered outside Anniversary Towers, chanting slogans and demanding action from HELB. Security officers blocked them from accessing the building and urged them to return to school.
Meanwhile, students from Kenyatta University also staged a protest along Thika Road, causing a massive traffic jam that stretched from Githurai 44 to the city center. They planned to join their UoN counterparts in pressing HELB for answers. Videos shared online captured large groups of students marching along the highway, vowing to storm the board’s offices and demand their funds.
Motorists were advised to use alternative routes as the protests led to long traffic delays.
The controversy over university funding began on December 20 last year when the High Court ruled that the new university financing model was illegal and unconstitutional.
Justice Chacha Mwita declared that the model, which was introduced in May 2023, lacked a legal basis, was discriminatory, and had not undergone public participation as required by law.
“It should have been subjected to public input before implementation,” Justice Mwita ruled.
The ruling threw the higher education sector into uncertainty, forcing the government to explore alternatives while students remained in limbo over their financial support.
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