Kenya Universities Students Organization (KUSO) President Anthony Manyara has sounded the alarm over the dire conditions faced by university students due to delayed Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) disbursements. He revealed that some learners have resorted to extreme measures to survive, with no financial support for more than six months.
How Bad Is the Situation for Students?
“Students are suffering, they fry rats, hunt birds, sometimes wanainama. Wamepewa hope ati pesa za HELB zitatoka, sai ni over 6 months,” Manyara said, painting a stark picture of the hardship. The delays have left many students unable to afford basic needs such as food, accommodation, and learning materials.
The financial strain has also taken a toll on academic performance, with some learners forced to skip classes or engage in unsafe means of survival while waiting for the promised funds.
Manyara is urging the government and HELB to act urgently, warning that the prolonged delay risks pushing students into deeper poverty and jeopardizing their education. He emphasized that the timely disbursement of loans is not just a financial issue but a matter of safeguarding students’ dignity and prospects.
The call comes at a time when the rising cost of living is already straining households, making the HELB delay an even heavier burden on young people trying to pursue higher education.
By Lucky Anyanje
