Multimedia students have this morning began protests over delayed disbursement of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
Taking to the streets, the students chanted solidarity songs, blocked the road to their school using stones and promised to protest until late into the night.
News of looming protests hit the internet over the weekend after the President Kenya Universities Students’ Organization {KUSO}Antony Manyara revealed that comrades were yet to receive the usual funds.
Manyara added that the relevant authorities had promised to pay the comrades by Monday failure to which the students would hold peaceful demonstrations.
”MOE through CS & PS promised to have COMRADES paid by MONDAY. For whatever reason, if THEY FAIL, Comrades MUST PREPARE mercilessly & ruthlessly for TUESDAY. I call upon all Student Leaders elected in various Institutions to heed the call.” he posted.
CLARIFICATION:
MOE through CS & PS promised to have COMRADES paid by MONDAY. For whatever reason, if THEY FAIL, Comrades MUST PREPARE mercilessly & ruthlessly for TUESDAY. I call upon all Student Leaders elected in various Institutions to heed the call by @HEBabuOwino and STAND…
— Arch. Antony Manyara, HSC (@AntonyManyara) September 29, 2023
The institution seemingly backtracked on their word since most students were yet to receive payments on the specified date. This prompted Manyara to call upon students and their leaders to demonstrate against infringement of their right to Education
”We urge all the comrades to come out in large numbers on Tuesday 3rd of October for a mass and peaceful demonstration ,because HELB has failed to meet what we expected, Its either they release on our accounts or we release on them.” Manyara warned through a post on KUSO’s official X account.
The issue on education loans has been a sensitive matter and Kenyan students thought their days of suffering were over when the president reappointed former senate speaker Ekwe Ethuro as the new HELB chairperson last month.
Demonstrations are expected to happen around the country as students grow impatient of HELB’s inability to fulfill its promises.