GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES HELB DISBURSEMENT DATE FOR 2025/2026 ACADEMIC YEAR

The government has officially announced that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) will begin disbursing funds to students from August 15, 2025, aligning with the reopening of universities and colleges for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed the move, stating that the disbursements will be done in phases to facilitate smooth settling-in for first-year university and TVET students. The funding comes under the Student-Centered Funding Model (SCFM) introduced last year.
According to the Ministry of Education, over 201,000 first-year university students, 237,000 TVET trainees, and 257,000 continuing students are expected to benefit. So far, more than 190,000 students have applied for scholarships and loans through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.
The government has also increased HELB funding for this academic year from KSh 36 billion to KSh 41 billion, with KSh 13 billion allocated for tuition and upkeep loans, and KSh 16.9 billion channeled through the Universities Fund for scholarships.
Applications for financial aid opened on July 31 and will remain open until August 31, 2025. Students are urged to complete their applications on the HEF portal within the set timelines to ensure timely disbursement.
This marks a significant boost for higher education accessibility as the country transitions fully to the new funding model targeting students based on financial need and program requirements.