The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has awarded loans to 136,634 first-time university students for the 2025/2026 academic year.
The announcement, made by Education CS Julius Ogamba in an official notice to Universities, signals a strong commitment by the government to support students under the newly implemented Student-Centred Funding Model.
The loans, which were disbursed on August 15, are expected to cover both tuition and upkeep, easing the financial burden on students entering university for the first time. "As of 15th August 2025, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has awarded loans to 136,634 eligible university first-time applicants, who have submitted their loan applications under the Student-Centred Funding Model for the 2025/2026 academic year," the notice read in part.
Education CS Julius Ogamba during a stakeholder engagement with TVET principals in Mombasa County on April 23, 2025.
