Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) C.E.O Charles Ringera to assist in management of county technical colleges’ revolving fund, the signing took place at the County Headquarters.
Mr Ringera hailed the Uasin Gishu County government for coming up with the fund and partnering with HELB in its management.
“As a higher education loans board we have been looking for alternative sources of funding apart from the government allocation and recovery of loans and therefore the coming in of counties through devolved funds is a great move in the right direction,” Ringera said.
Governor Mandago appreciated HELB for what they have been doing in uplifting the level of higher education through funding.
“HELB is doing a good job creating opportunity for every child regardless of background to access higher education by providing funds.” Mandago said.
He informed the board that the county has allocated funds but lacks the capacity to manage the same in disbursement and recovery. This prompted the move to have the partnership.
The County Government of Uasin Gishu has allocated Sh 60M to fund students taking TIVET courses in various Technical colleges in Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Trans Nzoia Counties.
The colleges covered include Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) and Eldoret National Polytechnic in Eldoret, Lessos Technical College in Nandi County and Kitale Technical College in Trans Nzoia County.
The beneficiaries are students who come from Uasin Gishu County and are taking courses in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing and Masonry.
Mandago promised that they will expand sponsorship to other areas of study as time goes.