Students have been urged to log into their Helb portals to confirm receipt of the funds and access details of their individual accounts./FILE
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released Sh9.46 billion to support more than 309,000 university students across the country.
The funds, disbursed on Tuesday, August 19, cover tuition and student upkeep for the current academic cycle.
According to the Ministry of Education, the money will ease financial pressure for thousands of families struggling with the cost of higher education.
In a statement, Cabinet Secretary for Education Jullus Migos Ogamba said the allocation includes Sh5.76 billion for tuition fees and Sh3.7 billion for student upkeep.
“We are pleased to notify parents, guardians and university students that the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has, as of today, disbursed a total of Sh9.46 billion in financial support to 309,178 university students,” the statement reads.
Students have been urged to log into their Helb portals to confirm receipt of the funds and access details of their individual accounts.
The government reassured students and parents that it remains committed to keeping higher education affordable and within reach for all eligible learners.
“The government will continue to provide the requisite funding to ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable and that no student is left behind on account of financial limitations,” said Ogamba.
The move is expected to ease delays and disruptions that have previously plagued students dependent on state funding.
Helb loans are a lifeline for many undergraduates, providing both tuition payments to universities and monthly upkeep allowances to help students meet basic needs.
Education stakeholders have in the past raised concerns about late disbursements, which often leave students stranded.
Tuesday’s announcement is therefore likely to bring relief to students and their families, as well as to learning institutions that rely on timely tuition payments.
The Ministry said the government remains focused on expanding access to higher education through consistent financial support, even as student numbers continue to rise.
By ensuring that tuition fees are settled directly and upkeep funds are released to students, the ministry emphasized that its priority is to safeguard continuity in learning and reduce the financial burden on households.
