Save Moi university students from hunger pangs

Moi University students have held demonstrations for two days over the delayed release of their loans. Some of the students complained that they no longer have money to buy food and have been forced to miss meals.

Shockingly, the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has confessed that it doesn't have money to disburse to the students. One therefore cannot help but wonder, does the government expect students to study on hungry stomachs?

It would be easy to take the students' grievances for granted. But the truth is that a good number of students in public universities come from poor backgrounds.

While most of the students come from families that can foot their bills, a good number of their colleagues are not as lucky.

They cannot afford to pay fees, pay rent and buy food without the Helb loan. Anyone who has studied in public universities can attest to this.

It is, therefore, unfair to them when universities before Helb disburses the funds. It's pointless teaching a class which has a third of students hungry or who don't know where their dinner will come from. We are setting such students for failure.

We understand that times are hard for everyone, and the Government is no exemption. But the Government must do everything possible to put money in these students' pockets in the shortest time possible.

As the Government looks for money, we urge the students to remain calm, and anyone out there who can extend help to even one student to do so.

Henceforth, we urge the Government to put its house in order so that students whose loan applications have been approved by Helb can have money in their accounts.