Wamuchomba slams govt over delayed disbursement of HELB funds
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, strongly criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration over the continued delay in the disbursement of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds, expressing deep frustration at the government’s failure to meet its obligations to university students.
Speaking out after receiving numerous distress calls from university students in her constituency, Wamuchomba condemned the delay, warning that the future of young Kenyans is being put at risk due to the government’s negligence in funding education.
According to her, many students have already paid their required portion of the school fees, but the government has failed to release the HELB portion, thereby locking them out of crucial examinations.
“Last week, I received a distress call from a group of JKUAT students who needed urgent intervention,” she said.
“They had been denied access to exam rooms despite having cleared their share of school fees. They were left scrambling for unpaid HELB balances, even after being assured earlier this year that the government would meet its share in time.”
Wamuchomba revealed that some students were unable to sit for their exams on the first day but were allowed to do so the following day after her office intervened.
She also said she had received a similar complaint from students at Mount Kenya University, who had been barred from exams despite having fulfilled their payment obligations.
The legislator lamented that the current administration is toying with the future of the youth, arguing that a failed education system is a sign of failed governance.
“The Kenya Kwanza Government has failed to safeguard the future of Kenya’s youthful population. Messing up education is a clear indication of a FAILED governance system,” she said.
Message to Ruto
Wamuchomba called on President William Ruto to show the same level of commitment as parents do when paying fees for their children.
“The president, like all other parents, should show commitment to safeguarding university education and avoid, at all costs, limiting access to affordable education,” she urged.
She also criticised Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, accusing him of misleading both the public and Parliament by claiming that capitation and HELB disbursements had already been made.
“The delays in remitting capitation and HELB indicate that all is not well, yet the CS and his ministry continue giving false hopes—even in Parliament,” she added.
Wamuchomba has been a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, despite her being elected on a UDA ticket ever since its ascent to power; at no point in time has she failed to criticise its policies that do not mean well to the local Mwananchi
