Gachagua Airs Plight of Kenyan Students Charged High Fees in South Africa
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to intervene in the high fees charged to Kenyan students in South Africa.
While meeting with the leadership of the Kenya Diaspora Association in South Africa on Friday, the DP emphasized the difficulties that Kenyan students face while studying in South Africa.
According to issues raised during the meeting, Kenyan students in South Africa are subjected to high school fees.
In his inaugural speech on the sidelines of Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, DP Gachagua blamed foreign nationals for the high fees levied in South Africa.
He claimed that all affected students would be included in the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) program to cushion them from the huge fees that they incur.
“We have the issue of school fees for Kenyan children who are charged very highly because they are deemed to be foreigners. We will let them be included in the HELB program,” the DP said.
The Diaspora community is a key component of our economy in trade, jobs, investment back home, among other ways.
— H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH (@rigathi) June 20, 2024
In reaping the full benefits, we are intentional in engaging Kenyans in the Diaspora to gain insights to inform strategic interventions of addressing barriers, pic.twitter.com/cJqEi34aKH
He also expressed his desire to expedite the process and ensure the challenge is resolved, promising to consult with the Ministry of Education and the head of state.
Kenyans living in South Africa face a number of challenges, including high Kenyan airline tickets in comparison to other airlines in the region, as well as an unfriendly business environment.
The second in command left the country on Tuesday for an official visit to represent President William Ruto at Cyril Ramaphosa’s swearing-in ceremony after his reelection.
He read a congratulatory message from President Ruto during the Inauguration on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Pretoria.
This is four months after President William Ruto met the South African president at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two heads of state agreed to strengthen trade and educational ties between their countries.
One of the resolutions was to reinstate visa-free travel between the two countries.
“A year ago, these ties received a big boost after our two countries eased visa regimes for the citizens of both nations,” the official stated.
Gachagua Airs Plight of Kenyan Students Charged High Fees in South Africa
