A Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) student is appealing for financial help from well-wishers and people of goodwill after running into financial challenges in paying his academic fees following his admission last year at the campus under the quashed university funding model.
Gedion Kiptoo, 19, a first-year Paramedic Science student at MMUST, risks dropping out after not being able to raise the required amount for his second semester after he successfully appealed his placement band, managing to secure Band Two.
Speaking to KNA at his home in Telanet village within Ainamoi sub-county in Kericho, the firstborn in a family of three said he initially applied for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan following his admission at the campus on 29 August 2024 but was surprised to find his placement in the Band Four category despite coming from a needy background.
He added that he undertook the necessary steps to appeal and confirmed that his case was successful and managed to receive a Band Two placement, adding that his mother, the breadwinner of the family, managed to raise the required fees through a church donation, securing his admission.
“My situation has not been easy, and I am to report back for my second semester on Monday, which is January 6, 2025. I attained a B plus grade in my 2023 KCSE, which I sat at Cheborge Boys High School in Bureti sub-county, Kericho. Under Band Four, I was to pay Shs 41,310, but following my appeal, I am supposed to pay Sh13,000 as my mother is not in a position to raise this amount,” said Kiptoo.
His mother, Mama Cynthia Chebet, revealed that she is unemployed and struggles working manual jobs to make ends meet for her family.
“I still have school fee arrears at my son’s former school, and I am still struggling to raise money towards clearing this as well as his university fees. I do mobile salon work as well as tailoring, but the money I earn is too little. I am hopeful that God will see to it that my son completes his university education,” said Mama Chebet.
She lamented that her request for bursary support from both the county and national government have borne no fruits.
Well-wishers can reach Kiptoo through phone numbers 0720130256 and 0710 680728.
On December 20, 2024, a court ruling by Justice Chacha Mwita declared the university fund introduced in May last year as unlawful due to its lack of legal foundation, discriminatory nature, and failure to involve public participation.
The funding model had placed students in five bands using variables noting parents’ background, gender, course type, marginalisation, disability, family size, and composition, which determined the household needs and appropriate funding.
Under Band One, which catered for extremely needy and vulnerable students, they were receiving 70 per cent government scholarships and loans at 25 per cent, and the household would only contribute 5 per cent of the fees with an upkeep of Sh60,000.
Under Band Two, it catered for students coming from low-income families who required substantial aid, receiving a 60 per cent scholarship and 30 per cent in loans while contributing 10 per cent of the fees with Sh55,000 as upkeep.
Under Band Three, students from modest families got 50 per cent in scholarships, 30 per cent loans, and were to pay 10 per cent of the fees with Shs 50,000 as upkeep. Those in Band Four and Five were considered for middle- and high-income earners, with households paying 40 to 20 per cent of the fees, and the students received 30 per cent as loans and Sh40,000 and Sh45,000 as upkeep.
By Sarah Njagi
