Relief for University Students as HELB Confirms Funds Are Available

University and college students across the country can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) assured them that there will be no interruption in financial support for their studies.

HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari announced that the board has enough money to meet the funding requirements of both university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students.

His remarks come at a time when learners and institutions have been worried about possible financial collapse that threatened to disrupt academic programs.

According to Monari, HELB has already disbursed Ksh.26.1 billion to universities and Ksh.7.9 billion to TVET colleges in the current 2024/2025 academic year. He further assured that more funds will be made available through supplementary budget allocations to address any gaps in the coming semester.

“Right now, we don’t have any challenges. As we prepare for the next semester, we are confident that supplementary estimates will help us cater for any shortfalls because we now have a clear picture of the total student numbers. We are fully on track,” Monari stated.

Students Still Express Concerns

Despite the assurances, many students are still anxious about delays and the strict rules enforced by their institutions. Some learners revealed that they are being barred from registering for classes or sitting exams without clearance of school fees.

“Students cannot attend classes if they don’t have a fee card. Registration begins this week, but we’ve been told that without payment, we will not be allowed to sit for exams,” explained Isaac Muhia, a TVET student at P.C. Kinyanjui College.

Another student, Antony Okeyo from Egerton University, shared his struggle, saying:
“I applied for HELB during my first year, but I never received my first semester loan.

The government scholarship has left me with a balance of Ksh.233,000. With the application portal closing in a week, I risk being discontinued from studies.”

Government’s Position

The government, however, has made it clear that no qualified student should be excluded from their studies simply because their institution has not yet received HELB funds.

“We have held talks with vice chancellors and explained that if money has not reached the institutions, it is still reflected on our portal.

Universities and colleges should not send students home or deny them exams due to delays in HELB payments, because we have already guaranteed that the money will be paid,” Monari emphasized.

Education officials also reinforced this stand, insisting that financial challenges should not lock out deserving learners.
“No student who qualifies to be in university should miss the chance to learn because of their financial background,” another education official, Ogamba, remarked.

Reforms and Sustainability Plans

Monari further highlighted the reforms HELB has recently introduced to make funding more transparent and fair.

One major change is the elimination of the previous banding system used in loan allocations, a move aimed at ensuring equality among all applicants.

To secure its long-term financial stability, HELB is also considering introducing a social bond. This bond would help securitize loan repayments, creating a steady flow of funds to support ongoing and future students.

However, a significant challenge remains in loan repayment. Monari revealed that only about 67% of past beneficiaries are repaying their loans, while 33% have defaulted.

“People must come forward and start repaying their loans. Last year alone, we managed to collect Ksh.5 billion in repayments. This money went directly to support the 499,000 students currently in universities and the 114,000 students in TVET institutions,” he said.

With these measures, HELB is confident that funding for higher education will remain sustainable, ensuring that no student is forced out of school due to lack of financial support.

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