HELB says first, second-year students to receive funds under old model

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced that first- and second-year university students will now receive funds under the old model while awaiting the outcome of an appeal challenging the High Court’s suspension of the new framework.

The announcement follows protests at various institutions on Monday led by University of Nairobi students, who stormed HELB’s headquarters in Nairobi to demand the immediate release of their loans.

After being locked outside the HELB headquarters, tensions escalated until police intervened, allowing a number of student leaders to entry into anniversary towers to present their grievances.

Authorities were keen to avoid disruptions within the CBD.

“We are protesting the delayed bursary. Kula ni shida—we can’t afford anything… we’re protesting all the way to Anniversary Towers,” said Rocha Madzao, UoN’s student leader.

In solidarity with students from Egerton University and Kenyatta University, who were also protesting delays in bursary disbursements, the University of Nairobi student leadership met with HELB officials.

The officials explained that the delay has been occasioned by a High Court ruling on December 20th, which declared the new university funding model illegal and unconstitutional.

“The disbursement delays stem from a court decision that halted the implementation of the new funding model, forcing HELB to temporarily revert to the old system until the legal matter is resolved,” said King'ori Ndegwa, HELB’s lending manager.

Under increasing pressure, HELB stated it would disburse funds for first- and second-year students using the old model while awaiting a decision on an appeal against the High Court’s suspension of the new framework.

This means that the affected students will be financed under the differentiated unit cost model, the same model used for third- and fourth-year students.

“It’s illegal, but we will now pay HELB using the old model,” Ndegwa said.

He also confirmed that HELB had just disbursed Ksh.3.1 billion using the old model, although approximately 180,000 students are still awaiting their disbursements.

Elsewhere, the Technical University of Kenya has been closed indefinitely after an exam scheduled to take place at the university on Monday morning failed to start as striking staff rejected the vice chancellor’s request to proceed with the tests.

The lecturers are demanding payment of salary arrears dating back to December 2024.

Some students at TUK joined the staff in their demonstrations, urging the Ministry of Education to release funds to cover the outstanding salaries.

“The protets should continue until all demand are met,” said Dr Constatine Wesonga, secretary-general of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU).