Despite President William Ruto’s assurance that Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) funds would be disbursed by last Friday, thousands of university students are still waiting — frustrated, desperate, and struggling to make ends meet.

While a lucky few have received their loans, the majority remain in limbo, grappling with financial uncertainty.

For many, the delay is more than just an inconvenience — it’s a crisis affecting their ability to pay rent, buy food, and stay in class. 

In a public statement made during his tour of Nairobi last week, the President promised that all necessary government procedures had been completed to ensure the funds would reach students’ accounts by the end of the week.

“I have instructed the Head of Public Service to ensure that the money reaches the students’ accounts by Friday so that everyone can have their resources,” Ruto said. 

Their accounts

He also warned that he would personally hold officials accountable if the funds were not disbursed as promised.

However, despite the assurance, many students have reported that they still have not received the much-needed funds in their accounts. 

At the University of Nairobi, student leader Rocha Madzao expressed frustration over the continued delays saying it has exerted financial strain on many students.

“There is partial disbursement of the Helb funds. It’s scattered across which some have received while majority haven’t received the government funding,” said Madzao.

“The President promised that the money would be in our accounts by Friday, but that hasn’t happened to some comrades,” Madzao said.

Helb lending manager King’ori Ndegwa, who spoke to The Standard acknowledged the challenges, explaining that the delays stemmed from the court decision.

“We are still working to resolve the issues arising from the court’s ruling. Unfortunately, this has created an obstacle for the timely release of funds,” Ndegwa said.

Despite this explanation, students are growing frustrated with the government’s handling of the matter. 

“Most of us depend on government funding for our wellbeing in university. Without the money, we are unable to pay our bills, forcing us to do odd jobs for survival,” said Jane Auma from Maseno university.

At Technical University of Kenya, students council leader, Alex Nabangi, said students are yet to receive funding.

“Students have not got government funding. Maybe we give it a day. In case it goes through we will be grateful. However, students are just struggling to survive in the university,” Nabangi said.

Last month protests erupted in several institutions, with students staging demonstrations in Nairobi, calling for the immediate release of their Helb funds.

Raise fees

A section of university students has opted to take up menial jobs to raise fees and cater to their expenses following the delay in the disbursement of the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb).

Students interviewed painted a picture of hopelessness and despair, with some expressed fears of being locked out of the registration July exams because of fee arrears.

Edwin Samir, former Technical University Mombasa student leader, said some students from the institution have secured menial jobs at the garment Export Processing Zones (EPZs)in Changamwe to survive.

“I know of students who are doing part-time jobs in EPZs in Changamwe to raise the fees. It is tough for the comrades due to Helb delays,” he said. 

In Nakuru, students who spoke to The Standard from different parts of the country expressed their disappointment.

“I was to get my HELB loan in December; it is verified but yet to be disbursed. There is no hope, as the money is yet to be allocated.

‘‘We don’t know when disbursement will be made,” said Ibrahim Jodia, a student at Kabarak University.

Jodia revealed he was yet to settle his Sh84,000 fee and that he was still at home while other students were going on with their studies.

 “I have not paid my rent for the last three months since I had confidence that the money would be sent. My landlord has just called me to send the money. I do not know what to tell him,” said Jane Nyokafi, a student.

Just like Nyokafi, James Njuguna, a third-year student, said that he had been locked out of the rental house and has since moved to a friend’s house.

“I had no option but to move to a friend’s house. My parents had hoped that I could get the money. They are now unable to pay since my siblings are primary, secondary, and now me in university,” he said.

Joseph Kiprop, a student leader, called on the government to honour its pledges and release the funds to facilitate their education. “We are struggling. Let what President Ruto said be actualised,” he noted.

In Western and Nyanza region, it was a grim picture of learners struggling to stay in school without money, with many staring at failing to sit for their end semester exam before they break for holiday.

Additionally, The Standard established that the most affected students are first-year and second-year students who are under the new university funding model, with several third-, fourth- and sixth-year students having received their loans in January and early February, with some still waiting.

Lisabel Mboya, a student at Alupe University in Busia County, said the President should live up to his promise and ensure students sit for their exams and be comfortable in universities.

“We were happy that our President had intervened for students to get the Helb funds, but as things stand, there is no money yet in our accounts.

“The most worrying thing is that we are approaching the exam period, and without paying school fees, you are automatically locked out of doing exams,” said Mboya.

Ruth Moraa, a third-year student doing a Bachelor of Education at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), said she is yet to receive the money.

“I am still waiting for the money. Despite the President’s assurance, the danger is that we are approaching the exam period, and getting money at this time is so difficult because most of us are from needy families. We are only urging the President to intervene and save the situation,” said Moraa.

Receiving funds

Sadfa Sweti, a third-year student pursuing a degree in journalism and mass communication at MMUST, acknowledged receiving funds in January, adding that the situation affects most first- and second-year students.

“I received all the money in January. What I know is that the most affected students are those in the first and second years under the new funding model; they have not yet received money, and it will be good if the government disburses the money into their accounts because they are going through a lot of difficulties,” said Sadfa.

In Kisumu County, Mark Emmanuel, a mathematics and computer science student at Maseno University, has been forced to rely on foods and little pocket money sent by his parents from Homa Bay County.

Emmanuel, who spoke to The Standard, described life in university without money as ‘‘hell on earth’’, saying that on many occasions many students have been forced to go to bed hungry, a scenario they have nicknamed Kuinama, a swahili word meaning to bend.

“It’s difficult because the little money coming from home is never enough; our parents are also struggling back home, so they can’t manage to sustain most of us .

‘‘Sometimes when it’s lunchtime, unainama ipite (you bend to let it pass), and that greatly interferes with your concentration in class,” Emmanuel said.

Old funding

His sentiments were echoed by Denver Kulecho, a fourth-year student pursuing education at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Siaya County.

Kulecho, who received Sh19,050 in January under the old funding model, has been surviving without Helb money since then, a situation he has termed as hectic.

A senior official at the University of Nairobi stated that the institution is doing everything it can to support students, but without Helb funding, the situation remains untenable.

“We understand the challenges our students are facing, but without the necessary funding from Helb, we cannot provide the support they need,” the official said.

The disbursement delays have been attributed to a range of factors, including a legal battle over the new funding model for higher education. 

A High Court ruling in December last year halted the implementation of a new framework for university funding, forcing Helb to revert to the old model.

– Report by Mike Kihaki, James Munyeki, Julius Chepkwony, Willis Oketch, Benard Lusigi, Clinton Ambujo and Mary Imenza