The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) on Tuesday revoked clearance certificates belonging to 57 Kenyans.
While the agency did not disclose the specific reasons for these revocations, it is standard procedure for HELB to withdraw these certificates if they were obtained illegally or issued erroneously.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the board advised all affected individuals to contact HELB for further information or visit the agency's website.
"This is to notify the public that the under-listed HELB clearance certificates have been revoked with immediate effect," read part of the statement.
The certificates are granted to persons who have completed their loan repayments or to those who did not receive any loans from the board.
Loan recipients who are actively repaying their loans receive complimentary compliance certificates.
The certificates serve a dual purpose, enabling holders to secure employment opportunities and also become eligible for additional loans.
Accessing these certificates, whether for loan clearance or compliance, is a straightforward process through the eCitizen platform or the HELB portal.
For Kenyans who have not been meeting their loan repayment obligations but require a compliance certificate, a one-time payment of Ksh4,500 or Ksh1,500 for a three-month period applies.
Employees are advised to furnish their certificates to their employers to prevent ongoing deductions for loan repayments.
Employers typically require several documents during the recruitment process, including the HELB compliance certificate.
Additionally, candidates may need documents from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Credit Reference Bureau (CRB), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
HELB loans serve the primary purpose of providing financial support to students pursuing higher education.
In recent times, the government has introduced a new funding model for students' education, allocating funds based on their specific financial needs.
This Higher Education Funding model classifies students into categories such as vulnerable, less vulnerable, needy, and less needy.
