HELB has finally come out to address the situation following Comrades in Misery,an investigative program showing how university students suffer to stay in campus[Photo/Jamii Forums]
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has come out to address the situation following a recent investigative story by Citizen TV showing how Government sponsored university students are forced to do menial jobs to stay in campus.
In the feature,students from poor backgrounds narrate how they are forced to do odd jobs including cooking,selling vegetables and cleaning laundry to not only pay fees but also afford other necessities needed in the learning institution.They are also blaming a portion of their woes to the inaccessibility of the HELB fund.
But in a rejoinder, while speaking to Citizen TV Monday,the board Director Charles Ringera blamed the situation on delayed loan repayment by former beneficiaries saying that some have never paid back the loans they received leaving the board's hands tied and unable to issue sufficient funds to incoming students.
''The situation is to be heavily blamed on former beneficiaries who are yet to start repaying their loans.We have 85,000 loan accounts who are yet to repay their loans owing to billions of Shillings.Their extended stay with the loans leaves us unable to issue new loans to new students,'' said Mr Ringera who further clarrified that some of the students who featured in the program have never applied for the loan.
He however said that the board will ensure that their applications are worked on swiftly in a bid to bring them on board within the shortest time possible.
''Some of the students who featured in the feature have not applied for the loan but since we now know them and are aware of their condition,we are determined to bring them on board within the shortest duration possible to relieve them of the burden,'' he said.
He also blamed the rise in number of applicants
The program dubbed ''Comrades in Misery'' focused on Moi University main Campus in Eldoret and was filed by Citizen TV journalist Mercy Kandie.