Embakasi East Member of Parliament Hon.Babu Owino has threatened to lead a demonstration on Thursday following the delay in the disbursement of Higher Education and Loans Board (HELB) funds.
The former Student Organisation of Nairobi University president has issued a warning to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary and HELB CEO, Mr. Charles Ringera giving them seven days to ensure that the loans have been disbursed or they will hold a demonstration.
“We have decided that on Thursday next week we will demonstrate, we are giving them an ultimatum of at most seven days then we shall be holding a demonstration and all roads will be closed, “said Babu.
According to Babu a majority of the loan applicants come from a poor background and require the loan to pay for their upkeep and payment of the school fees.
“Without HELB, a comrade cannot go to class, buy food, afford accommodation and even sleep. Some students are forced to postpone their studies because they can’t do exams without paying for the fees,” he furthered.
Taking on his Instagram account on Friday 4th, February, he urged the university students to mobilize other students to take part in the demonstration so as to send a message to the government if the HELB CEO will not release the loans.
“You send them to universities but you don’t want to give them the fees, therefore I urge all students in the whole nation to mobilize themselves in large numbers and ensure that this demonstration becomes a success,” concluded Babu.
The MP noted that the demonstrations will be peaceful and urged all the policemen to also be peaceful and not to use the tear gas to disperse the students.