In a dramatic turn of events, student protests disrupted Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) on Monday after University of Nairobi (UoN) students stormed the offices of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), demanding the release of overdue student loans.
The protests were fueled by delays in disbursement, which led to mounting frustration and fears among students, particularly those at risk of missing course registration deadlines.
In response to the protests, HELB announced that it would revert to the old loan disbursement model for first and second-year students, pending a decision on an appeal against the High Court's suspension of the new funding model.
However, this move only added to the confusion, as the board continues to grapple with addressing the financial challenges faced by students.
UoN student leader Rocha Madzayo criticized the delays, emphasizing that the issue was not limited to their institution but affected students nationwide.
He expressed concern that many students were struggling to meet their financial obligations. The students marched to HELB’s Anniversary Towers offices, chanting slogans and demanding answers, though police prevented them from entering the building.
The protests spread to Kenyatta University, where students also staged a march, causing major traffic disruptions on Nairobi’s Thika Road.
Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes as the demonstrations caused a standstill that extended from Githurai 44 to Kenyatta University.
This crisis follows a High Court ruling in December 2024, which declared the new university funding model illegal and unconstitutional.
The court found the model lacked a legal foundation and had not been subjected to proper public participation, setting the stage for further debates over the future of student funding in Kenya.
