The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has reverted to its old funding model awaiting the decision of an appeal challenging the High Court’s suspension of the new funding model.
The old funding model will be effected to the first- and second-year students.
This was after university students stormed the headquarters at university towers in Nairobi demanding the release of their funding.
They argued that the delays of their loan’s disbursement led to many students being out of campus.
Tension escalated at the headquarters which led to police intervention allowing some student leaders to enter anniversary towers and present their grievances.
In 2003, the government revealed a new funding model which was eligible for all University and TVET students that covered scholarship, loans and household contributions based on their financial situation.
It was also eligible those seeking their studies in private universities, parallel and self-sponsored students covering loans only.
However, a petition was filed in High Court by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and other firms seeking to have the model revoked arguing that it was unlawful and implemented without public participation.
The High Court on the other hand ruled that new model funding as unconstitutional and failed to address the needs of students.
This prompted the education CS Julius Ogamba, AG Dorcas Oduor, HELB and other trustees of the universities to appeal the court’s decision seeking to retain the new funding model.
The appeal is still pending a hearing.
