A group of University of Nairobi (UoN) students protested outside the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) offices at Anniversary Towers today over delayed loan disbursements that have left many struggling to pay tuition, rent and basic expenses.
The protest got out of hand when students tried to storm HELB offices but were dispersed by police to prevent disruptions in Nairobi’s CBD.
Protest Issues
Loan Delays & Financial Struggles
- Students are can’t pay tuition and rent due to HELB delays.
- Many rely on these funds for daily living expenses and academic continuity.
- Protesters say they are in financial crisis.
HELB’s Response
- HELB blamed the delays on:
- Budget constraints
- Increased demand for student loans
- Challenges in recovering funds from previous beneficiaries
- HELB said they are working to speed up disbursements but didn’t give a timeline.
Government’s Role & Student Demands
- Students had issued a 7 day ultimatum on January 14 for the government to act.
- They want urgent intervention to stabilise funding for the loan programme.
- If the issue is not addressed, more protests will follow from affected students across institutions.
HELB’s Sustainability
HELB was established in 1995 and has always faced delays due to funding shortfalls and loan recovery challenges. The current impasse raises questions on:
- Long term sustainability of the student loan programme.
- Government’s commitment to higher education funding.
- Widespread academic disruptions if this issue persists.
As tensions rise, students have warned of bigger demonstrations if the government doesn’t act fast to resolve the funding crisis.