CS Machogu: HELB ready for disbursement

By Peter Ochieng

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for education Ezekiel Machogu has assured first year university and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions that all is well, regarding disbursement of funds to support them and their education.

Machogu in a signed press release seen by Nairobi Review said disbursement of the money will start on Tuesday, 7th November, 2023, under the new funding model.

"The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has finalised the processing of loans for first year students in universities and TVETs under the new higher education funding model. Consequently, the ministry wishes to inform successful applicants that the funds will bedisbursed to their respective universities and student accounts starting Tuesday 7th November, 2023."

"Students are advised to ensure that their bank details, as provided in the application for the loans, are correct and up to date."

The new higher education funding model launched mid this year stipulates that students from vulnerable and extremely needy households, will receive 100 per cent funding, while the needy and less needy will get 93 per cent government funding.

The assurance by the CS comes a day after university of Machakos students in Machakos county, took to the streets demanding the release of HELB funds for first year students.

They threatened to carry on with protests until the money is disbursed, in solidarity with their first year comrades, whom they claimed were starving due lack of funds.

The students engaged police in running battles for the better part of Thursday.

In the end, police managed to disperse them using teargas canisters. No injuries nor property destruction were reported.

Over 10 people, reportedly students and former students were arrested during the demos.