More Than 75,000 First Year Students Miss Out on HELB Loans
On Thursday, February 3, HELB Chief Finance Officer, Mary Wachira testified before the National Assembly Committee on Education and informed the MPs that more than 75,000 first-year students had not received their loans from the government.
Leah Mukangai 
She stated that first-year students who started at various universities in September 2021 will have to wait until the National Treasury reimburses HELB with Ksh3 billion.
The government's refusal to distribute funds to students early enough makes the first years of school challenging since most students, especially those from low-income families, rely on loans to pay for their tuition and living expenses.
According to the Parliamentarians, the delay may force some freshmen to postpone their studies because most higher education institutions require students to pay full semester fees in order to secure admission.
“Right now, we have 75,000 first-year students who are yet to be funded and we require Ksh3 billion to process their applications,” the HELB Chief Finance Officer said.
Students who are affected will be required to utilize alternative sources of funding to pay for their tuition, housing, and maintenance.
HELB provides loans to students ranging from Ksh35,000 to Ksh60,000 per year, depending on their financial situation and demands. However, for most students, the total amount released by HELB has decreased from Ksh43,000 to Ksh37,000.
Aside from the delayed release of funds, the government agency listed failed payment as one of the reasons freshmen were unable to obtain the loan. This has resulted in budget cuts and a greater reliance on the Treasury.
