National University students have issue one-week strike notice,this Follows the recent directive By Cs Amina Mohamed on the Helb Issue.
The Students are also Opposing the newly Hiked Fee Structure.
Last week, HELB declared that it would collaborate with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in their crackdown on perennial loan defaulters.
The state agency, in the press release signed by CEO Charles Ringera, highlighted various laws touching on loan defaulters and affirmed that it would seek to actively collaborate with relevant authorities in their pursuit of the same.
“Indeed, HELB will collaborate with DPP and other relevant agencies to enforce loan repayment as provided for under the HELB Act,” read an excerpt from their press release.
According to the document circulated to the media houses, the state agency asserted that the purpose of involving law enforcement agencies indicated by Education CS Amina Mohamed was to promote compliance, integrity and to ensure access to funds for future loan applicants from needy backgrounds.
The agency’s statement emphasised that loanees, who default on loan repayment, including those who are employed, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not less than Ksh5,000 in respect of each loan deduction as per Section 15 (2) of the HELB Act.
In addition, the government body asserted that every employer shall be required to inform the board in writing within a period of three months upon the employment of any loanee, with none-compliance attracting criminal liability.
Under such instances, the employer will be deemed to be guilty and liable to a fine of not less than Ksh3,000 for each month that he/she fails to notify the board.
The state agency responsible for providing loans to students in pursuit of higher education put out the release in response to the public uproar over Amina’s statement on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.
“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. This will include tracking graduates working in enterprises such as Mobile Transfer services such as MPESA, Airtel Money and other emerging jobs,” the CS declared.
HELB felt that the public’s reaction emanated from a misinterpretation of her statement, and thus, went on to clarify the police service was just one among the many government bodies they can legally consult when in pursuit of loan defaulters.