Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday promised to ensure that the Higher Education Loans Board remits students' funds in time.
While addressing residents of Kitui on Tuesday, Ruto said his government will ensure that there are no interests rates on Helb loan and also ensure that the program becomes a grant.
“There will be no interest on the Helb loans. We will also make sure that Helb money becomes a grant and not a loan. Secondly, the amount of money students get is too small. It is supposed to be added so that comrades can sort their expenses,” Ruto said.
He added: “HELB Inachelewa sana. Inakuja ikiwa imechelewa hadi kinaumana!.”
Loosely translated as: "The loan delays so much that things become unbearable. The funds are released when things are out of hands".
Ruto said he will make sure that no student will be subjected to CRB because of unpaid loans.
University students had earlier asked Helb to consider increasing their funding.
The students said the fees increment witnessed in several institutions was proving to be expensive for them to afford.
Kenya Universities Students Organization Chairman Anthony Manyara called for talks between student leaders and Helb to deal with the financial challenges.
“In an era where university fees have been increased by almost three folds in most all institutions, then there is a need to also increase Helb for it to match what the students are supposed to pay,” Manyara said.
Manyara said the inability to sustain their lives might be contributing to the rise in suicide cases among university students.
