HELB Releases Fresh Tuition Funds to Universities as Students Await Upkeep

Universities have started receiving another round of HELB tuition funding, offering relief to students whose loan applications had been delayed.

The Higher Education Loans Board confirmed on Thursday that five batches had been processed and their tuition funds sent directly to institutions.

Five Batches Disbursed

The batches covered in the latest release are HELB-007139, 007145, 007147, 007146 and 007132.

Students whose applications fall within the listed batches have been advised to check their HELB portals or contact their respective institutions for confirmation.

The money being released in this round is specifically intended for tuition and is therefore being paid to universities and other eligible institutions rather than directly to students.

Upkeep Payments Still Pending

The latest announcement does not mean all outstanding student funding has been cleared, with some applicants still waiting for upkeep payments.

Concerns have been raised by students whose applications have remained at the allocation stage for extended periods without receiving their funds.

HELB has previously indicated that disbursements are being processed in batches, meaning students may receive funding at different stages depending on their application's position in the process.

Students can monitor their allocation and disbursement status through the HELB student portal, which provides access to loan application and payment information.

Government Funding for Student Loans

The latest payments come as the government continues to increase funding for student loans under the higher education financing system.

The Treasury has allocated KSh58 billion for student loans in the 2026/2027 financial year, up from KSh41 billion previously allocated.

The Ministry of Education has also urged universities to continue admitting students as funding is progressively released.

For students awaiting payments, the latest batch announcement provides confirmation that the disbursement process is continuing, although those awaiting upkeep will still have to wait for