The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has revealed plans to begin working with police officers to track down individuals who have defaulted on their student loans.
This announcement was made on Friday, May 30, as part of new efforts by the board to strengthen loan recovery and improve its financial stability.
HELB CEO Geoffrey Monari made the statement while addressing the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education.
He explained that the board is currently finalising a partnership with law enforcement agencies to help identify and trace beneficiaries, both within Kenya and in foreign countries, who have secured employment but have not started repaying their loans.
Monari stressed that this move is not solely focused on financial recovery. He pointed out that it is also about encouraging a sense of responsibility and national pride among those who received government-sponsored education support.
“Compliance with loan repayment is not just a financial obligation; it is a way to support other deserving students from less privileged backgrounds,” he told the committee.
During his presentation, Monari also highlighted concerns over the growing number of defaulters and the threat they pose to the sustainability of the HELB loan system.
He reminded the committee that the board operates as a revolving fund, meaning the money repaid by former students is used to finance the education of new students.
However, the increasing rate of non-repayment is weakening the fund’s ability to continue serving future generations.
Members of the parliamentary committee challenged HELB to go beyond enforcement strategies and intensify its public awareness campaigns.
They recommended more outreach programs, including advertisements and the use of success stories from past beneficiaries, to show the value of repaying loans.
They also urged the board to explore other sources of funding beyond government allocations.
HELB decided to move forward with this tougher approach after many former loan beneficiaries failed to respond to previous warnings and repayment notices issued to them.
The board had given multiple chances, but thousands still did not make any effort to repay their debts.
On the other hand, a significant number of loan defaulters have argued that their failure to repay is due to unemployment or low income.
Some of them have asked HELB to extend the grace period until they are able to secure stable jobs and earn enough to begin paying.
Earlier in the year, on Monday, March 24, HELB issued a notice offering an attractive incentive for borrowers who were ready to clear their outstanding loans in full.
The board offered an 80 per cent waiver on penalties for anyone who made a lump-sum payment to fully settle their debt.
The notice read in part: “Settle your HELB Loan in a lump sum and enjoy an 80 per cent waiver on accrued penalties. Simple, rewarding, and just a call, DM, or email away!”
Kenyans who wish to begin the repayment process were encouraged to dial *642# on their mobile phones and follow the steps provided in the prompt, or to visit the official HELB website and use the online portal to manage their repayments.
As HELB intensifies efforts to recover unpaid loans, it continues to appeal to the public to cooperate and help sustain the education funding system for future learners.
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