More than 309,000 university and college students across Kenya have smiles on their faces this week following the Higher Education Loans Board’s (HELB) confirmation for disbursement of Ksh9.46 billion loans to the students.
In a Tuesday release, HELB indicated that the funds had already been disbursed and asked students who had applied to log in onto their HELB portals to check if money had been deposited into their accounts
“Students are advised to check their HELB portals to confirm receipt of the funds and to access detailed information regarding their individual HELB loan accounts,” the board said.
How the Funds Are Distributed
According to HELB, out of the total disbursed amount:
- Ksh5.76 billion has been allocated for tuition fees, sent directly to learning institutions.
- Ksh3.7 billion has been released for student upkeep, meant to support daily living expenses.
- So far, 309,178 students from both universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have benefited from the latest round of disbursements.
“We are pleased to notify parents, guardians, and university students that HELB has disbursed a total of Ksh9.46 billion in financial support,” the board stated.
While many students have already received their loans, HELB is encouraging those who haven’t applied yet to do so before the deadline.
As of August 18, the board had received a total of 961,023 loan applications with 660,560 coming from university students and 300,463 from TVET learners.
The government says it remains committed to making higher education more accessible and ensuring that no student is left behind due to financial challenges.
“The Government will continue to provide the necessary funding to ensure higher education remains affordable and inclusive,” HELB added.
How to Apply
The loan application window closes on the 31st of August, and all students still in need of funding are urged to act quickly.
First-time applicants can apply via the official HELB website: www.hef.co.ke
The HELB mobile app or dialing *642# on their phones can be utilized by continuing students.
