Universities Told to Admit First-Year Students as HELB Disbursement Delays Persist

The Ministry of Education has urged universities to admit first-year students despite delays in the release of Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds.

Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala said the government was finalising the processing of the funds before releasing them to students.

Inyangala spoke on Tuesday, September 1, during a consultative meeting with university vice chancellors on the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

She acknowledged the concerns raised by students over delays in accessing their financial support.

“The process is being finalised as is going on, and once it is finalised, we will be able to release the funds,” Inyangala said.

However, HELB has already started disbursing funds to some students as of September 1.

Students in batch 7046 are among those whose funds have been released. HELB has advised beneficiaries to allow up to 48 hours before accessing the money.

Despite the funding delays, Inyangala asked universities to proceed with the admission of first-year students.

She said institutions should help vulnerable students settle as the government works on the proposed changes to the higher education funding system.

“The universities are supporting students who are very needy and vulnerable to settle down. The students should join universities as we wait the processing of the bill,” she said.

The directive comes as thousands of students prepare to begin their university studies amid uncertainty over how the new funding system will operate.

The Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026 is currently before Parliament.

The proposed law seeks to introduce a new framework for financing students in universities and other institutions of higher learning.

If enacted, the system would establish the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA).

TEFA would take over functions currently handled by HELB, the Universities Fund and the TVET Funding Board.