HELB Reassures Lawmakers Amid KSh 41B Allocation, Assures Support for September Intake

Nairobi, Kenya – The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has given Parliament assurances that it will finance all university students expected to join in September, despite citing a funding shortfall. HELB CEO Geoffrey Monariinformed the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation that the board has secured a supplementary allocationfrom the National Treasury to close the funding gap. The education funding for the 2025/ 2026 academic year has been raised to KSh 41 billion, up from KSh 36 billion, with Treasury committed to bridging any deficit through the first supplementary budget.

Funding Structure and Disbursement

• HELB will continue supporting both new and continuing students under the revised funding model, which separates scholarships from upkeep loans.

• Upkeep funds are allocated based on bands, disbursed in two equal semester installments, with the following annual amounts:

  • Band 1: KSh 60,000 (KSh 30,000 per semester)

  • Band 2: KSh 55,000 (KSh 27,500 per semester)

  • Band 3: KSh 50,000 (KSh 25,000 per semester)

  • Band 4: KSh 45,000 (KSh 22,500 per semester)

  • Band 5: KSh 40,000 (KSh 20,000 per semester)

• While scholarship disbursements are processed separately, eligible students will receive both scholarship and loan support once the supplementary budget is approved.

Timelines and Operational Assurance

• Education CS Julius Ogamba confirmed that the first disbursement of HELB loans for first-year students will begin on August 15, 2025, aligning with university reopening.

• By mid-September, HELB expects all funds to be available to facilitate student registration and admissions, with ongoing collaboration between the board and universities for seamless implementation.

Long-Term Reform Outlook

• Monari acknowledged the need for long-term reforms, including strategies to diversify funding sources and strengthen repayment enforcement, making the system more sustainable and responsive to economic shifts. (While not directly cited in your sources, this aligns with public statements on HELB’s reform path in recent coverage.)

At a Glance