Lamu Woman Representative Ruweida Mohamed push for all students from marginalised areas to benefit from the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has been blocked.
The lawmaker wanted to amend Section 6 of the Helb Act to ensure all these students benefit from the loans before the parliament rejected the same.
MPs argued that it is illogical for HELB to be compelled to award bursaries and scholarships to students from specific regions.
The National Assembly Committee on Education said that the change cannot be accepted because HELB faces financial constraints.
The committee, which was , chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, said that HELB is likely to crumble in the event that such requirements are put in place.
“Not all students from marginalised areas are needy as some of the parents can afford to pay fees. On the contrary, there are needy students from other areas...who deserve to be considered for Helb loans and bursaries,” reads the committee report, as quoted by Daily Nation.
The committee also said that the residents of these areas are likely to push for more favours, which is unconstitutional.
The committee also advised students from arid and semi-arid areas to take advantage of bursaries and scholarship to pursue their education in different fields of knowledge.