The Higher Educations Board (HELB) has raised concerns over a move psoposed by ODM leader Raila Odinga to convert the students loans into a grant should he be elected President in the 2022 General Election.

HELB Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera has said the government has a Sh43 billion education grant already.

“This is money paid to students in universities through the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) and they do not pay it back,” said Ringera.

Ringera added that the education loan's board is already running a Sh237 million bursary fund for students. 

On Tuesday, Raila promised to convert student loans, often given to them in tertiary institutions by the board, into a grant. 

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The former Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing Chuka University Students in Tharaka Nithi County.

He promised that should he ascend to power, he would make the HELB loans into a grant and free Kenyan youths from the enormous debts they owed the board. 

He also promised to give Sh6,000 to jobless youth each month and persons living in abject poverty as his government works on expanding the economy and uplifting the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs).