Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino vowed to push for the loans issued to students by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to be turned into grants.
Taking to his official social media accounts on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the youthful lawmaker stated that he would fight the same way he fought the new university funding model.
Babu Owino says secondary education in Kenya should also be offered at no cost.
Babu Owino on SHA
He went further to state that once the education sector is restored, Kenyans should join hands and fight to have the Taifa Care that is administered by the Social Health Authority (SHA) done away with.
“We have successfully fought the New University Funding Model, and HELB is back. We will always win. The next fight is for HELB to be a grant, not a loan, and for us to have free secondary education. SHI SHAH must also be done away with. We must have our country back,” Babu Owino stated.
We have successfully fought the New University Funding Model and HELB is BACK. We will always win. The next fight is for HELB to be a grant not a Loan and for us to have free Secondary Education. SHI SHAH must also be done away with. We must have our country back.
— Babu Owino (@HEBabuOwino) February 4, 2025
The lawmaker has always been vocal in fighting for the rights of university students, especially the HELB loans.
Old funding model
HELB on February 3, 2025, announced that first- and second-year university students will now receive funds under the old model while awaiting the outcome of an appeal challenging the High Court’s suspension of the new framework.
The announcement follows protests at various institutions on Monday led by University of Nairobi students, who stormed HELB’s headquarters in Nairobi to demand the immediate release of their loans.
After being locked outside the HELB headquarters, tensions escalated until police intervened, allowing a number of student leaders to enter into anniversary towers to present their grievances.
The officials explained that the delay has been occasioned by a High Court ruling on December 20th, which declared the new university funding model illegal and unconstitutional.
“The disbursement delays stem from a court decision that halted the implementation of the new funding model, forcing HELB to temporarily revert to the old system until the legal matter is resolved,” said King’ori Ndegwa, HELB’s lending manager.
Leave a Reply