Students of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) have joined their colleagues from other universities in opposing the government plans to increase university fees.
Led by their President Mr. Vincent Awiti, the students warned that they shall not let the Ministry of Education to increase the University fees. They lamented that it is quite unfortunate that such proposals are usually being arrived at without even the involvement of the students’ leadership.
Briefing the media at a hotel in Bondo town, JOOUST’s students Association Majority leader Mr. Evans Amayo stated that the proposal by the University Vice-Chancellors to triple the fees was unacceptable. He stated that if effected the fees hike would negatively affect many students who have been struggling to pay fees even forcing some to drop out.
Mr. Amayo equally opposed the proposal to reduce the amount of money that the students have been getting under the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), noting that the student fraternity always depend on the loans to finance their education and any cut proposal is therefore unacceptable.
They suggested that instead of increasing the fees and cutting down on the HELB loans, the government ought to think of doing the vice-vasa to enable easy access to University education.
The sentiments were echoed by JOOUST Deputy President Ann Kerubo and the Students’ Association Secretary General Bob Ondari who stated that education is key to every Kenyan citizen, and any attempt to deny them access to it is evil.
By Brian Ondeng’
