The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has clarified that police officers will not be used to track down loan defaulters as earlier stated by Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.
HELB Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera says the board will use its own officers to pursue the defaulters, especially those who are employed.
Ringera explains that reports that the body would use the police to crack down on defaulters were taken out of context.
“Law enforcement means the use of people like us; section 15 of the HELB Act sub-section (2) gives the board the mandate to use its own inspectors to pursue those who have intentionally refused to pay back their loans, yet they have jobs,” Ringera says.
During a function in Nairobi on Wednesday, CS Amina was quoted saying that the crackdown would be conducted by cops.
“We are also going to partner with our law enforcement agencies to track down those holding jobs and yet are reluctant to stand up to be counted as responsible and patriotic citizens who honor their debts,” Mohamed said.
She added: “This will include tracking graduates working in enterprises such as mobile transfer services like M-Pesa, Airtel Money and other emerging jobs. We hope by doing we will increase the resources that are available to HELB to support others.”
Her remarks have sparked outrage from graduates who are yet to secure employment after acquiring degrees.
About 74,000 loan defaulters owe HELB more than Sh7.2 billion.
Ringera said HELB would also partner with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to track defaulters in the diaspora.
“We are having a large number of graduates leaving the country to work abroad majority who have defaulted,” Ringera said.
I thought and knew so. MoE…
I thought and knew so. MoE is a train wreck and the sooner someone sanitizes that ministry the better. By all standards the CS and her team could be competent people in other areas BUT not in education period! The recent missteps n MoE are an indication that the ministry which holds the future of our country, is out of control and all they do is damage control. Kenya cannot and should not afford to play games with education; that is one of the resources that will fuel the next scientific and technological advancement. Ask yourself why the likes of google, intel, TI, facebook and other players in the tech industry are flocking Kenya? It is simply the talent in our young people. And to help us be part of the stakeholders and not just employees and consumers of science and tech; access to quality and relevant education is paramount now than ever before. I know the king’s word is law; my president when are you going to remove the yoke that is dangling on our education system? While wishing the MoE CS well, I think a lighter duty will be in order to suit CS& team than education. If as they say “a last minute can save a man” is true, I believe your last minute action can save a nations’ educational future. Pray that you find it in your power and excellency to act sooner than later, and stop the bleeding in MoE.
The gave Amina the wrong…
The gave Amina the wrong ministry. She has no experience in that department and have not idea of how to run it. She goes to the direction the wind blows. The sooner the better they remove her in that ministry. We have had enough of her flip-flopping.