Reprieve for university students as HELB finally disburses Ksh.1.56 billion

The government, through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), has disbursed Ksh.1.56 billion to students and trainees for tuition and upkeep.

According to Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba, the funds were released on Friday and will go a long way in cushioning university and college students currently benefitting from the program.

“A total of 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,863 university students would benefit from these loan disbursements,” stated the CS.

“The provision of this funding will ensure that student and trainee needs are met, enabling them to continue with their academic, training and research programmes without hindrance.”

Following the funds release, the beneficiary students and trainees have since been notified of the disbursements through HELB's official communication channels and advised to check their portals.

In the current Financial Year 2024/2025, HELB has so far disbursed a total of Ksh.32.7 billion for upkeep and tuition loans expected to benefit 195,522 trainees in TVET institutions and 390,612 students in universities.

The CS expressed confidence that the government would support university students and TVET trainees towards the attainment of their academic and training goals amid the controversy in the new University Funding Model.

The disbursement comes amid a push by some MPs and other stakeholders over the delay in the disbursement of HELB funds which had left thousands of students stranded financially.

Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina last month raised an issue over the delay, calling upon the Departmental Committee on Education to provide clarity on the funding crisis.

The delay followed a ruling by the High Court on December 20, 2024, which declared the new higher education funding model unconstitutional.

The ruling barred the implementation of the model until the government ensured compliance with constitutional and legal requirements. 

In response, the Ministry of Education pledged to introduce a revised tertiary education funding model, expected to be rolled out later this year. Meanwhile, the government had committed to reverting to the previous HELB funding framework.

The financial distress had triggered unrest in several universities, with students staging protests and, in some instances, lecturers boycotting examinations in solidarity with affected learners.