Deputy President William Ruto has pledged to convert student loans into a grant if he defeats his main rival Raila Odinga in this year’s presidential election.
In his quest to capture students of the higher learning institutions into the Kenya Kwanza ahead of the August presidential duel with the ODM leader, the deputy president further vowed to increase the funding to comrades.
While engaging traders and residents of Kitui and Kwa Vonza Towns in Kitui County on Tuesday, March 29, the UDA presidential flag bearer said that he will ensure the comrades are well catered for so that they can easily foot their bills.
“There will be no interest on the Helb loans. We will also make sure that Helb money becomes a grant and not a loan. Secondly, the amount of money students get is too small. It is supposed to be added so that comrades can sort their expenses,” William Ruto said.
The presidential hopeful further assured comrades that he will ensure the grants are released on time.
“The loan delays so much that things become unbearable. The funds are released when things are out of hands,” Ruto said.
About 109,661 former university students have defaulted on payments to the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) in the wake of layoffs and a freeze in hiring, denying the agency cash flow to support freshmen and continuing learners.
The latest data from Helb shows loan accounts in default increased from the 106,443 recorded in December 2020, with unpaid loans standing at KSh10.9 billion.
This highlights the struggle faced by beneficiaries who were making repayments on the strength of their payslips or cash flow from businesses for those in self-employment.
However, Ruto said he will make sure that no student will be subjected to CRB because of unpaid loans if he succeeds his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
