Kirinyaga Woman Rep Njeri Maina Demands Explanation Over HELB Disbursement Delays
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has raised concerns over the delay in disbursing Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds, demanding an explanation from the Departmental Committee on Education.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, February 18, Njeri urged the committee to clarify the ongoing financial crisis affecting university students across the country. Many students have been left struggling to meet their basic needs due to the delayed release of funds.
“Despite the government’s promise to return to the old Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) model, there has been little commitment to ensuring timely disbursement of funds to students,” Njeri Maina stated during her address.
The Kirinyaga Woman Rep further argued that the delayed funds violate Article 43(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to education. She emphasized that students heavily rely on these funds to sustain themselves in school, and any delay disrupts their academic journey.
To address the issue, she has demanded a detailed report from the Departmental Committee on Education. The report should outline the total amount of funds disbursed by the National Treasury under the HELB model, including specific dates of these disbursements. Additionally, she wants the committee to disclose the total number of students who have received financial support since November 2024. She also called for a clear plan to ensure such delays do not happen again in the future.
Background on the Funding Crisis
The ongoing crisis stems from a High Court ruling issued on December 20, 2024, which declared the government’s new university funding model unconstitutional. As a result, the government was barred from implementing the new system until it complied with all constitutional and legal requirements.
This ruling created significant uncertainty among university students, particularly those in their third and fourth years, who depend on HELB funds for their daily expenses. The situation worsened in February when students took to the streets to protest against the prolonged delay in receiving funds. The growing pressure forced HELB to release funds for first and second-year students under the old model while awaiting the outcome of the government’s appeal against the court ruling.
In response to the student unrest, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured that funding had already been allocated in the 2024/25 budget. He confirmed that the government would continue releasing funds under the new university funding model while working to address the legal concerns raised by the court.
“The government will provide funding to universities using the new model, even as we work on resolving the legal issues. The money is already in the budget,” CS Ogamba stated.
Meanwhile, the Departmental Committee on Education is expected to respond to Njeri Maina’s demands by presenting a comprehensive report on the matter by Tuesday, February 25.
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