This afternoon, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed sent shock waves across the country after she announced that her ministry and the Higher Education Loans Board would work together with law enforcement officers to track down and arrest over 74,000 loan defaulters.
This announcement was followed by a huge backlash on all social media platforms as young people who felt it was completely unfair aired their voice on the matter.
We have sampled some of the reactions below.
You took a loan to fund your education expecting to get a job and pay back the money. You graduate, can't find a job, you're hungry, depressed,barely surviving & now
@AMB_A_Mohammed wants you jailed because you can't find a job to enable you pay the loan. Criminalizing poverty. pic.twitter.com/zpSWIcq8kK— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) February 20, 2019
I welcome the directive by Amina to track down HELB defaulters in a country where 60%+ of graduates are jobless.
Infact, I suggest they save the tracking funds & just announce the prisons for the youth to go, at least they'll be guaranteed free meals in jail & no worries.
— Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) February 20, 2019
When Helb officials pull up to your doorstep with the whole Recce and Flying squad and ask you why you haven’t repaid your loan.pic.twitter.com/lLn2VLFeDx
— Mutinda (@brianmutinda_) February 20, 2019
Hahaha. HELB to partner with the police to track down defaulters? This is the biggest joke I have heard this far. You want to hunt down unemployed youth to recover loan?
Who is the bright spark behind these ideas? Write off the loan. I mean billions more were lost to corruption!— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) February 20, 2019
HELB now wants to hunt down over 74k defaulters,definitely me included who are mostly Youths who are unemployed and can't even afford money to feed themselves. Why can't Amina ensure Graduates are given internships & employment after campus? All they are interested in is cash.🤔
— Dhahabu Kenya (@dhahabumedia) February 20, 2019
Screw HELB and the Police! You want to hunt down unemployed masses to recover loan? It’s JUST 7.2bn, write it off and charge it to NYS I, NYS II, Eurobond or Afya House. https://t.co/Ugjlxb19zP
— Twiva (@twiva_ltd) February 20, 2019
😂 😂 😂 HELB to partner with CID and Police 🚨. This is crazy. What if China hunts Kenya 👇 down. Take us slow Helb. Mambo ni slow motion ata tala na branch wanatupeleka pole pole
— Fidel (@fidel_Ke) February 20, 2019
So the 74k HELB defaulters are criminals. Why can't this government partner with those law enforcement agencies to track the cartels behind the looting of funds at the NYS, SGR, Eurobond, Afya House, Ministry of Health, NCPB…
— Abdirahman AnzaFresh (@HonAbdirahman_) February 20, 2019
Kenyan government cannot account for over Sh. 300 billion annually but is now going after jobless citizens because they are unable to pay back Sh. 7 billion HELB loan. Ridiculous.
— Nicholas (@SeweOfficial) February 20, 2019
You are a young man who is straight from campus, unemployed and frustrated.
Running away from landlord who wants his rent.
Running away from depression.
Running away from police who have a tendency of harassing youths.
Now you have to run away from HELB and the police
— Kayeli Ian (@Thisiskayeli) February 20, 2019
So HELB will be arresting Jobless youths, Who are unable even to pay rent or their Medical Bills! NONSENSE
— Moseax ✈ 🧳 (@Moseax) February 20, 2019
