The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed Ksh1.56 billion to students and trainees across various institutions in Kenya for tuition and upkeep.
The disbursement follows President William Ruto’s directive to expedite financial aid to thousands of students, as confirmed by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos.
More than 65,000 students from different institutions are set to receive the funds in their accounts, providing much-needed financial relief.
Ogamba confirmed that the beneficiary students and trainees have been notified of the disbursements through HELB's official communication channels and advised them to check their HELB portals.
According to the CS, the provision of the funding will ensure that students and trainees meet their needs and enable them to continue with their academic, training, and research programs without hindrance.
Further, he confirmed that the government has so far disbursed a total of Ksh32.7 billion to 195,522 trainees in TVETs and over 390,000 students in universities.
''On Friday, 14th March 2025, the Higher Education Loans Board [HELB] disbursed Ksh1.56 billion to students and trainees for tuition and upkeep. A total of 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,863 university students benefitted from these loan disbursements,'' read part of the statement by Ogamba.
''The latest disbursement means that in the current Financial Year 2024/2025, HELB has disbursed a total of Ksh32.7 billion in upkeep and tuition loans to 195,522 trainees in TVET institutions and 390,612 students in universities.''
The CS assured that the government will continue to provide financial support to university students and TVET trainees towards the attainment of their academic and training goals.
Ruto while issuing the directive for the release of the funds on March 12, acknowledged that the government had been facing challenges with the disbursement of the funds, making it difficult for beneficiaries to receive their payments.
"There has been a problem with HELB. Yesterday, I had a meeting with the CS in charge to address the challenges that had been affecting the system," he added.
The delay in releasing the funds to students has in the past sparked a wave of protests from university students who resorted to the streets to petition the government to act.
On February 3, a section of Thika Road was rendered impassable as students from Kenyatta University engaged in a wave of protests to push for the release of the funds.
