Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto is now seeking legal action against the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for allegedly discriminating against some students.
Addressing journalists after a meeting with Law Society of Kenya South Rift region officials, he claimed that it was unfair for the board to deny some students the funding just because they did not have National Identification Cards (IDs)
He argued that the decision was a violation of their rights and that it was something they could not avoid since some are yet to attain the legal age of obtaining an ID.
He, therefore, instructed his lawyers to go to court.
"I have instructed lawyers to move to court and challenge the issue as a matter of public interest after hundreds of students reported to us that they are being discriminated against by HELB for a mistake that is not of their own making,” he was quoted by Daily Nation.
He further divulged that the decision by HELB kept thousands of students out of the funding despite some even having the ID's waiting cards.
He was speaking at his Tumoi home in Chepalungu on Monday.
In early June, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino wrote to President Uhuru Kenyatta urging him to write off all debts owed to HELB.
Taking to social media at the time, the youthful MP noted that it was common practice for governments to write off debts in areas with significant impact on the economy.
He cited cases where the government had previously written off debts and asked the president to consider his request in the next financial year for the sake of all Kenyans.
The outspoken MP further reiterated that in order for the economy to grow, the government needed to provide a conducive environment for the youth to flourish.
