The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced a disruption of services between May 30 and June 2, affecting all services, both physical and online.
In a notice dated May 27, the HELB board revealed that the site will be experiencing a planned systems upgrade during this time that could lead to disruptions, both on the digital and service levels.
"As part of our commitment to continuously enhance our systems for improved service delivery, we will be implementing a core system upgrade," the notice read in part.
"During this period, you may experience disruptions across all our service platforms, both digital and physical. We regret any inconvenience caused."
This comes even as the board continues to receive grievances on delayed disbursement of the loans to needy students, leading to them going into survival mode at their institutions of higher learning.
Barely two weeks ago, Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba raised alarm over concerning delays in HELB disbursements and mishandling of the education sector after receiving distressing calls from students from universities.
In a statement on May 14, the vocal lawmaker criticised the Kenya Kwanza government and accused the President William Ruto administration of sabotaging the education sector, as demonstrated by the several calls he was receiving from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students.
"The Kenya Kwanza government has failed to safeguard the future of Kenya's youthful population. Messing up education is a clear indication of a failed governance system," Wamuchomba stated.
"The delays in remitting capitation and HELB indicate all is not well, yet the CS for Education and the ministry keep giving false hopes even in Parliament."
Responding to similar claims in March, HELB's Chief Executive Officer, Geoffrey Monari, blamed the students for keying in incorrect account details that led to the unprecedented delays.
Monari told the National Assembly Education Committee that some students, particularly those who receive their funds through mobile money, often share incorrect phone numbers.
Systemic delays are, however, not the only challenge facing the students' lender, as over the past few years, it has faced a few too many lawsuits after the Kenya Kwanza administration implemented a switch to the new university funding model.
Public uproar and several lawsuits later, the Court of Appeal suspended a previous High Court ruling that had declared the government's new university funding model unconstitutional, allowing the government to resume the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model, which categorises students based on financial need.
