Government and Policy

HELB Disburses Ksh1.56 Billion To Students Following The Government Directive

BY Getrude Mathayo · March 19, 2025 02:03 pm

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released Ksh1.56 billion to students and trainees across various learning institutions in Kenya to cater to tuition and upkeep.

This move comes as a significant relief to thousands of students who rely on financial aid to sustain their education. The disbursement follows a directive from President William Ruto, instructing that HELB funds be released promptly to support students facing financial difficulties.

Confirming the release of the funds, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that students receive the necessary financial support.

He noted that more than 65,000 students from different institutions would benefit from the allocation, marking a crucial milestone In the government’s efforts to enhance access to higher education.

HELB’s CEO, Charles Ringera Ogamba, also assured students that the funds had already been credited to their accounts, urging beneficiaries to check their HELB portals for confirmation.

According to Ogamba, the disbursed funds will play a key role in enabling students to continue with their academic, research, and training programs without financial constraints.

This latest disbursement is part of a larger government initiative to support university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students. So far, the government has provided a total of Ksh32.7 billion for higher education financing in the 2024/2025 financial year.

These funds have benefited 195,522 trainees in TVET institutions and over 390,000 university students across the country.

In an official statement, Ogamba outlined the specifics of the recent allocation, noting that out of the Ksh1.56 billion, a total of 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,863 university students had received financial aid. This ensures that students in both academic and technical training institutions receive equal support in their pursuit of education.

“The latest disbursement means that in the current Financial Year 2024/2025, HELB has disbursed a total of Ksh32.7 billion in upkeep and tuition loans to 195,522 trainees in TVET institutions and 390,612 students in universities,” read part of Ogamba’s statement.

The government has reassured students that it remains committed to providing timely financial assistance. However, President Ruto acknowledged that the process has faced significant hurdles.

During a recent address, the President admitted that delays in HELB disbursements had caused distress among students, prompting urgent intervention by the government.

“There has been a problem with HELB. Yesterday, I had a meeting with the CS in charge to address the challenges that had been affecting the system,” Ruto stated while issuing the directive on March 12.

In recent years, delays in releasing HELB loans have sparked frustration among students, leading to protests in various parts of the country. On February 3, Kenyatta University students took to the streets, blocking sections of Thika Road in a demonstration demanding the immediate release of their HELB funds.

Such protests have underscored the critical role that timely loan disbursements play in sustaining students’ education and welfare.

With this latest disbursement, the government has taken a step toward addressing the financial struggles faced by students in higher learning institutions. However, concerns remain regarding the consistency and efficiency of future allocations.

Education stakeholders continue to call for more sustainable funding mechanisms to ensure that students receive financial aid without delays.

The Ministry of Education has also emphasized the need for increased budgetary allocations to HELB to accommodate the growing number of students seeking financial assistance.

Additionally, discussions are ongoing about potential reforms to the higher education financing model to make the system more efficient and responsive to students’ needs.

As the government works to stabilize the disbursement process, students and trainees across the country will be keenly monitoring the progress to ensure that their academic journeys remain uninterrupted.

With the assurance from CS Migos and HELB officials, beneficiaries can now focus on their studies, knowing that financial support is within reach.