This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
On November 18, 2019, Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino found himself at the center of a Higher Education Loan Board (HELB) loan scandal during an interview with KTN News anchor Sophia Wanunu.
During the interview, Babu Owino informed Sophia that he had a pending HELB loan, which he vowed not to pay, claiming that the government had promised Kenyans free education.
According to Sophia Wanunu, it is wrong for individuals in well-paying jobs to default on HELB loans and not support others who are in need.
Babu Owino defended his stance, stating, "My salary is used to pay school fees for my constituents. I do not receive any money as I have a contract with the needy people in my constituency."
He further claimed that the move by HELB to publish the details of defaulters in the newspapers would be a breach of privacy.
During the interview, Babu Owino also urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to waive the Ksh6 billion loans, citing instances where the government had waived outstanding dues for farmers and struggling parastatals.
