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{
    "id": 916810,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/916810/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 370,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, we are told that about Kshs2.5 billion is lost through those who acquire employment in the diaspora. I wonder how they will get this money from people in the diaspora, unless a very serious policy of recovering this is put in place, but not to the extent of hurting the very beneficiaries who are our children. There are other culprits as well who got employment but have defaulted. We may have to waive the starting date to about six months. According to me, it is high time that if education is supposed to be free, we are supposed to just simply give capital funding, and later on, the same student repays the same amount. In this case, we shall be providing the particular help those students need. In the case of affirmative action, women and youth are given capital, and they repay the same. If HELB is subjected to similar treatment – unless for those who have really defaulted – we can now apply some interest. However, if interest will be applied in this case, it should be looked into as well. Interest is so high to the extent that one questions where the people who are being slapped with these sums of money are employed, or if they are just students who are at our mercy. This is an important Motion that should not just stop at being contributed to on this Floor; something else should be down. This matter should be taken to a higher level. We need to meet the HELB management to explain their major challenges that make them charge very high interest, which they cannot recover. It is pointless to charge very high interest and yet somebody has already lost to the tune of Kshs24.6 billion. What does that mean? These people need to go back to the drawing board, restructure and find a better method to recover these loans. Madam Temporary Speaker, in addition, they also need to be aggressive and even get employment for their beneficiaries. They can approach the private sector when the Government cannot employ. If they were aggressive, that is the avenue through which they could recover some money. I support this important Motion by Sen. (Dr.) Ali."
}