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{
    "id": 555704,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/555704/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 106,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Odanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2286,
        "legal_name": "Geoffrey Makokha Odanga",
        "slug": "geoffrey-makokha-odanga"
    },
    "content": "Therefore, I will support the Member who said that it should even be decentralised to the counties so that vetting is done to find out the better criterion for those who really deserve this fund. This is very important because we are talking about the representation by the direct beneficiaries of this fund namely the students. This is also in the spirit of participation of those people who are concerned with this fund. We must support this amendment Bill. Similarly, the idea that those students who join university at a tender age or are below 18 years should get this loan without identity cards cannot go unsupported because we have very many needy students who have failed to get the loans to help them continue with higher education. The idea that the parent or guardian can also come in until these students attain the age of 18, when it is transferred to them is commendable. We should also note that all the students in this country, right from when they join Class One, are now given birth certificates. A birth certificate also has a number. That number is important and it should not be taken for granted. It is a number like the number in the national ID card. I wish that HELB also considers using the birth certificate number so that any child who has qualified to join an institution of higher learning, directly qualifies for this loan to complete his or her education. I also support the amendment on notification of applicants. That is students who have applied for the loan and their applications have been accepted or rejected should be notified. They should be notified in time and sufficient reasons given to them so that when they apply next time, they know why they did not get that loan in the first place. The issue of timeliness should also be addressed so that when HELB is disbursing the loans, it should do that on time. It should do that at the beginning of an academic year so that the parents and we, the leaders who represent them know that student “A” got the loan and student “B” was unable to get the loan. This will enable us come up with the way forward. Lastly, I would like to propose that there should be information because information is a very important tool. Let us know those of us who are in the counties and constituencies. Let us also have information from the board concerning who got the loan so that, as we are disbursing the funds that we have in the counties and constituencies, we shall know whom to give more or not. It is very important for us to make a decision. Many students tell us every time they have not received their loan, but when you seek more information, you find that they had received the loan. That information is important."
}