The Ministry of Education has confirmed that first-year university students will begin receiving Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds starting August 15, just days before institutions reopen for the new academic year. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the move on Thursday, stating that both HELB and the Universities Fund have been cleared to release funding for loans and scholarships under the 2025/2026 Student-Centered Funding Model.
“These funds will be released in phases to ensure a smooth transition into university and TVET colleges and help students settle into their academic journey without interruption,” CS Ogamba said.
The announcement follows the completion of application processing for new students who sat for the 2024 KCSE exams. According to ministry data, 129,403 students joining public universities and 60,976 trainees enrolling in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have successfully applied for support.
CS Ogamba confirmed that the Universities Fund has already started disbursing the first quarter of scholarship allocations to public universities. Applications for financial aid will remain open until August 31.
The government targets to support 201,695 first-year university students, 237,000 new TVET trainees, and 257,523 continuing students under the revised funding structure.
To accommodate the growing number of beneficiaries, the government has raised HELB’s annual budget by Sh5 billion, increasing it from Sh36 billion to Sh41 billion. The enhanced allocation includes Sh13 billion already released for tuition and student upkeep, and an additional Sh16.9 billion sent to the Universities Fund to cover scholarship awards.
“The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that no eligible student is left behind due to financial constraints,” CS Ogamba stated.
The announcement comes amid pressure on the government to ease the financial burden on families affected by rising tuition costs and the new funding model. Under the Student-Centered Funding Model introduced in 2023, support is allocated based on need, and students apply directly to access government aid.
HELB’s August 15 disbursement date offers relief for first-year students preparing to report to universities and colleges across the country. Public institutions are expected to reopen between August 26 and September 2.
The ministry assured that systems for processing payments and confirming student placements are fully operational, and the disbursement will proceed without delay.
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