The Government has released Sh3.9 billion as the first tranche financing to cover scholarships for Government-sponsored First-Year students in public universities under the new higher education funding model.
Beneficiaries of the scholarships are those who successfully made their applications through the Higher Education Financing portal (www.hef.co.ke) that was launched on the 31st of August 2023.
In a press statement, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu revealed that a total of 115,892 First-Year students had successfully applied for scholarships by 29th of November 2023.
He added that Universities Fund will disburse the Sh3.9 billion directly to individual universities for the successful applicants to cover their tuition fees based on the student’s individual need under the new funding model.
The CS assured that all Universities will receive the scholarship portions for their respective students by 4th December 2023.
Further, Machogu stated that the release of the scholarship amount brings to Sh9.2 billion the amount of money the Government has so far released to first year students under the new higher education funding model that President William Ruto launched on May 31, 2023.
He said that early this month, the Government, through the Higher Education Loans Board, disbursed Sh5.3 billion for loans to the First-Year students.
“The allocation of funds to students was based on a reliable scientific method, Means Testing Instrument (MTI), used to determine the student’s level of financial need, to ensure they are supported adequately. First-year students who sat the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination in 2022 are the first cohort to benefit from the new model,” he disclosed.
According to the CS, the Ministry of Education reiterates the Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting access to university education, and providing financial support to all deserving students, to ensure no one is left out.
HELB offers Jielimishe Loan to employed students pursuing Professional Courses, Higher National Diploma, Bachelors, Postgraduate-Diploma, Masters or PhD degrees in Kenya. The loans are awarded per year and paid directly to the approved institutions of higher learning.
Features of the Helb Jielimishe Loan
Quick loan processing
Competitive interest rate of 10% per year
Flexible repayment periods of 12 – 48 months (72 months for Public Servants)
Convenient and easy monthly check-off repayments
Borrow up to 90% of your program fees to a maximum of Kshs. 600,000
Affordable Credit Life Insurance Policy
Requirements of the Helb Jielimishe Loan
Admission letter from a recognized university/College in Kenya
Certified copy of your last acquired academic certificate (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Three (3) months latest pay slips (certified by your employer)
If you are employed on contract, please provide copy of appointment letter for a contract of not less than two years (certified by your employer)
Certified copy of your National ID (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Certified copy of your KRA PIN (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Certified copy of National ID from two employed guarantors (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Recent colored passport size photograph of yourself
Who is eligible for the Helb Jielimishe Loan
Employees in:
Civil service (Ministries, Counties, National Police Service, Kenya Defense Forces)
Public Commissions e.g. Teachers Service Commission, JSC, PSC, CAJ, SRC, CRA etc
Parastatals e.g. KRA, NSSF, NHIF, NTSA, KWS, KFS, KPA etc
Public Universities
Selected Private companies (E-mail [email protected]to check whether your company is eligible)
Jielimishe loan repayment starts immediately upon disbursement to the training institution.
CIVIL SERVANTS TRAINING REVOLVING FUND
This is a facility specifically for Civil Servants in National Government, County Governments and National Police Service.
This loan is offered in collaboration with The Ministry of Public Service. The amount awarded is between Kshs. 30,000 and Kshs. 500,000 at a competitive low interest rate of 4% per year, with prolonged repayment period of up to 72 months (6 years) through check-off.
The courses covered include examinable short courses of at least three (3) months and Postgraduate studies (Masters and PhD). The loan is used to finance Tuition, Library, Computer and Research and Examination fee.
Features:
Quick loan processing
Competitive interest rate of 4% per year
Flexible repayment periods of 12 – 72 months (6 years)
Convenient and easy monthly check-off repayments
Borrow up to Kshs. 500,000
Requirements:
Admission letter from a recognized university or training institution in Kenya
Course recommendation letter from your employer
A copy of 3 months latest pay slips (certified by your employer)
Certified copy of your national ID (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Certified copy of your KRA PIN (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Certified copy of national ID from two guarantors employed within civil service (certified by a commissioner of oaths)
Recent colored passport size photograph of the applicant
Who is eligible
Civil Servants in National Government, Parliamentary Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, County Governments, and National Police Service pursuing Postgraduate studies
Repayment is due 1 month after disbursement through monthly check-off system from the employer’s payroll for a maximum period of 72 months (6 years). Applicable interest is 4% per year and an annual ledger fee of Kshs. 1,000.
Scholarship does not require a student to have National ID card. Must be 2022 [and above] KCSE candidate for University applicant Admitted through Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS)
Higher Education Financing Scholarship For undergraduate Students:
Must be admitted in public universities. For TVET students:
Must be admitted by approved TVET institutions and also placed by KUCCPS [Not necessarily 2022 KCSE graduate].
Higher Education Financing Loan Requirements
National ID/KCSE index number.
Admission to university/ approved
TVET institution recognzied by the Ministry of Education.
Note:
1. Allocation for loans and scholarship will be done based on the applicant’s level of need as determined by the Means Testing Instrument.
2. ALL applications must be done through the website www.hef.co.ke
3. Applicants who qualify for Loan and Scholarship are encouraged to select both before submitting the application.
Higher Education Financing For TVET Students
The new higher education financing model meets each student at their need. Here’s how it works for TVET students.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed a total of Sh. 1.56 billion for tuition and upkeep for university students and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainees.
Out of the amount, a total of 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,863university students will benefit from the loan disbursements.
In a press statement sent to newsrooms, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education Julius Ogamba said HELB has already notified students and trainees who are to benefit from the funds through its official communication channels.
“I call upon university students and TVET trainees to check their HELB portals,” advised Ogamba.
Education Cabinet Secretary, CS, Julius Migos Ogamba.
The CS stated that in the current Financial Year 2024/2025 HELB has to date disbursed a total of Sh32.7 billion in upkeep and tuition loans to 195,522 trainees in TVET institutions and 390,612 students in universities.
“The provision of this funding will ensure that student and trainee needs are met, this will enable them to continue with their academic, training and research programmes without hindrance,” he stated.
Ogamba 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.
The Higher Education Loans Board [HELB] has officially taken over the Afya Elimu Fund [AEF]. The take over happened at an event presided over by Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General in the Ministry of Health and attended by Hon. Ekwee Ethuro, HELB Board Chairman; Charles Ringera, HELB CEO; Dr. Janet Muriuki, Country Director, Kenya, IntraHealth International; Prof. Michael Kiptoo, CEO, Kenya Medical Training College and representatives from USAID and other Partners.
AEF started as a scholarship scheme in the Financial Year 2012/2013 targeting to offer scholarships to 341 middle level health trainees in specific cadres and from marginalized areas. It was converted into a loan scheme in the Financial Year 2013/2014 targeting 2,200 middle level health trainees in specific cadres, from marginalized areas as well as high HIV prevalent counties in view of PEPFAR funding.
The initial main funders for AEF included USAID FUNZOKENYA Project, HELB and MoH who jointly contributed Kshs.120M. As of 31st March 2021 the AEF Fund had supported over 48,188students with a total of Kshs.3.06B
“The vision of AEF at inception was to grow the Fund to Kshs.2B by the year 2021 and we have clearly surpassed the target. Further, we have over 11,000 beneficiaries who have graduated. Recovery of these loans began in the Financial Year 2019/2020 and over Kshs.200M has been recovered to date,” said Charles Ringera, CEO HELB.
Some of the key partners to specifically join in supporting AEF include I & M Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, The Family Group Foundation and Rattansi Education Trust. Counties such as Kakamega, Taita Taveta, Bomet and Busia have set up special funds managed by HELB to support training of middle level health workers for their counties.
“To ensure sustainability AEF beneficiaries have from Financial Year 2019/2020 been covered under the HELB Students’ Loans Self-Protection Scheme [SLPS] starting with the First Time Applicants. So far, under the SLPS, a total of Kshs.2.9M has been deducted from 9,547 beneficiaries to cover a loan portfolio of Kshs.397.6M,” said Charles Ringera, CEO HELB.
AEF was the flagship Public Private Partnership project for HELB and since then, HELB has progressed with another 27 partnerships in a proactive approach towards external resource mobilization to gradually reduce the over reliance on Government exchequer.
HELB offers a unique opportunity for to partners to utilize a robust system of identifying deserving students, disbursing, and recovering the funds. In the last 6 years, HELB has mobilized over Kshs. 1.36Billion from 28 partners thereby facilitating over 35,000 students to pursue higher education in TVET Colleges and Universities.
The following are the categories of students eligible for government funding in accredited universities in Kenya:
Students who after sitting for KCSE are placed by KUCCPS to pursue undergraduate degrees in accredited public and private universities and take up their admissions in the year of placement. Students in undergraduate programmes qualify for funding approved duration of the programmes which varies from 4 to 5 years depending on the degree programme.
Students who are placed by KUCCPS to pursue undergraduate degrees in public and private universities upon completion of Diploma programmes recognized by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
Students who are placed in Masters Programmes by KUCCPS and/or admitted by Universities are eligible for funding for a maximum duration of two years.
Students who are placed in Doctorates programmes by KUCCPS and/or admitted by Universities are eligible for funding for a maximum duration of 3 years.
Process Of Grants Application
Welcome To Universities Fund
Follow the instructions below to successfully apply for grants
STEP 1: Confirm Your Account
NB:-In order to confirm Your account, you must first be placed by KUCCPS.
1. Input you KUCCPS ID which is a combination the year of Examination and your KCSE Number. Example 2022 and 3524326 to form (20223524326)
2. Enter a valid Email where your Login details will be sent.
3. Login With the Credentials then Create a New Password
STEP 2: Update Details
1. After Logging in into your account, you need to review your details and Update your information such as phone your Number and National ID number.
2. Some Details are Mandatory in order for you to apply for Grants. These details will be highlighted.
STEP 3: Apply For Grants
NB:- All the Attachment documents should be uploaded to the site as requested.
1. Click on the Login button below to Login if You have already confirmed your account or Click on Confirm button on the login Page to Confirm your account.
The Higher Education Loans Board [HELB] has today started the disbursement of tuition loans to Universities and TVET Institutions.
The upkeep loans for the over 175,000 undergraduate and over 70,000 TVET continuing students under the Old Higher Education Funding Model [OFM] is currently being disbursed to students as per their respective preferred payment channels [Bank account or HELB Mobile Wallet].
Higher Learning Institutions (HLIS) – Universities and Colleges are advised to allow students to register as tuition fees to various institutions have also been released and should reflect in the respective bank accounts of the HLIs by 5th October 2023.
For the First-Time students applying for Funding under the New Higher Education Funding Model [NFM] for both Loans and Scholarships, the deadline for application is 7th October 2023 as per the extension granted by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu on 5th September 2023.
The processing and disbursement of their Loans & Scholarships for both tuition and upkeep will follow shortly after the deadline date of 7th October 2023.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is a state body established by an Act of Parliament- CAP 213A in 1995 mandated to provide loans, bursaries and scholarships to Kenyans pursuing higher education in recognized Kenyan Universities and Colleges and to recover the same after completion of studies to facilitate establishment of a revolving fund.
The Board is therefore well aligned to Chapter 4, Section 43 (1) (f) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, that every person has the right to education.
For any media queries or interview requests, contact:
Mr. Collins Wenje
Ag. Head of Corporate Communication and Customer Experience – HELB
Cell: (+254) 0725 707966
Email: [email protected]
Upon recruitment of any person, kindly check using the HELB Employers Portal on www.helb.co.ke. Your recruitment policy may also include all new staff to declare their credit status with HELB.
The Higher Education Loans Board, Helb, advances a number of loan products to students in tertiary institutions. Helb provides the following loan products to all students: Undergraduate Loan, Tvet Loan / Bursary First Time For Tertiary Institutions, Post Graduate Scholarship Application and Afya Elimu Loan. The following are loan products for the employed individuals: Civil Servant Training Revolving Fund, Post Graduate Scholarship Application, Kra Staff Training Revolving Fund and JIELIMISHE LOAN(Salaried Students): PgD,HND,Bachelors, Masters, PhD & Professional Courses.
UNDERGRADUATE LOANS
These loans are for students joining public or private universities within the East African Community directly from high school either through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) or as self-sponsored. Amounts awarded range between Kshs.40,000 minimum and Kshs.60,000 maximum based on the level of need. The loan attracts interest of 4% p.a and the students are required to repay their loans on completion of their studies. Students are advised to apply at least one month before the opening date to allow ample time for processing.
Type of Loan Application
There are two types of undergraduate loan applications:
First Time Application-This is for applicants who are applying for the first time.
Second & Subsequent Application-This is for applicants who are applying for a second, third, fourth time as per the program duration
The number of loans one is eligible for depends on the program duration i.e. one is given loan 4 times for a 4 year program.
Management of HELB Loans
Students are advised that the loans should be used mainly for:
Tuition,
Books and stationery,
Accommodation and subsistence.
Students are advised to desist from diverting the funds to leisure or other family obligations.
Loan Award
The loan awarded ranges from a minimum of Ksh.40, 000 and a maximum of Ksh.60, 000. For those placed by Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), the loan amount is split to cater for both Tuition fee and Upkeep while the Self sponsored students, the money is sent directly to the university once a year as tuition fees. A standard amount of Ksh4, 000 for Government sponsored students only is deducted from the loan awarded and disbursed to the university per semester for tuition [total Ksh8, 000] and the rest is sent to the applicant’s bank account as upkeep. An Administrative Fee of Ksh500 per year is charged on the loan awarded and it is therefore deducted from the disbursed loan. A limited number of needy government sponsored students receive bursary of between Ksh4, 000 and Ksh8, 000 per year. The Bursary is paid to the university.
Requirements
A copy of the Applicant’s national ID Card
Copies of the parents national ID Cards/death certificate where the parent is deceased
Copies of both guarantors’ national ID Card
A copy of the applicant’s admission letter and KCSE result slip/certificate
A copy of the applicant’s Bank ATM/Bank card (for Government sponsored students only)
A copy of the applicant’s Smart Card from the institution
One recent colored passport size photograph of the applicant.
Repaying your Student Loan
Undergraduate loan repayment starts within one year of completion of studies or within such a period as the Board decides to recall the loan whichever is earlier. However, you can make voluntary payments before or after you complete your studies to reduce your loan balance.
Note:
Loans are charged 4% interest per annum
Loan repayment commences one year upon completion of studies or as deemed fit by HELB.
The loan is repayable up to a maximum of 120 months.
The First Time Loan Application is divided into the following categories.
INFORMATION ON PROFILE
This comprises of two sub categories as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant:- Personal Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their personal information. Items such as Sub-location,Division,location etc should reflect information as per your National Identification Card. b) Applicant:- Residence Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out there current place of residence information. Items such as Sub-location,Division,location etc should reflect your current place of residence and not as indicated in your ID Card.
INSTITUTION DETAILS
This comprises of three sub categories as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant :- Institution Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their Institution details. b) Applicant :- Loan Information. Here you are required any information on your loan or bursary.
EDUCATION BACKGROUND DETAILS
This comprises of one category as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant :- Education Background Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their education background details.Primary and Secondary School Details are compulsary.Failure to include this will lead to automatic disqualification
EXPENSE DETAILS
This comprises of two categories as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant :- Family Expenses In this section, an applicant is required to fill out the family’s expenses.
GUARANTOR DETAILS
This comprises of one section as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant :- Guarantor’s Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out the guarantor’s details.It is compulsory to fill in two guarantors failure to do this will lead to automatic disqualification
PARENTS DETAILS
This comprises of three category as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant :- Parents Marital Status In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their parent’s marital status. b) Applicant :- Parents Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out various details about their parent’s eg.employment. c) Applicant :- Guardian’s Details If the applicant is orphaned he/she will be required to fill in the gurantors’ details.
BANK DETAILS
This comprises of one section as elaborated below.Please fill each section before proceeding to the next item. a) Applicant :- Bank Details In this section, an applicant is required to fill out the bank’s details. To get started off click on this link; https://portal.helb.co.ke/
TVET HELB LOANS
Students pursuing Diploma and Certificate courses in Public universities, university colleges, public national polytechnics and Institutes of Technology and Technical Training institutes country-wide are eligible for this loan and bursary. Orphans, single parent students and others who come from poor backgrounds will be given priority for the loans and or bursaries. The application period is January to April every year.
Required Documents
Applications should access and fill the relevant TVET Loan & Bursary Application Form (TLAF).
Print TWO copies of the duly filled Loan Application Form.
Have the TVET Loan Application Form signed and stamped by the Dean of Students/Financial Aid Officers.
Retain one copy of the duly filled TLAF (Mandatory).
Drop the TLAF personally at the HELB students Service Centre on the Mezannine One, Anniversary Towers or any of the SELECT Huduma Centers nearest to you.
Click HERE to download approved TVET institutions funded by HELB as at March 2019.
Apply Now
Are you looking forward to further your education? Applying for aHELB loan can allow you to afford your studies while enjoying low interest. The Helb Loan Application form is available online at no cost. Apply for your Helb Loan here.
The Higher Education Loans Board, HELB, provides loans to students in universities and colleges. You can now apply for the HELB loans using the new HELB…
The Higher Education Loans Board(HELB) has opened the applications portal for First Time TVET Loan and Bursary. Students admitted in TVET institutions can…
The Higher Education Loans Board, HELB,first loan is awarded to university and college students after applying for the loan online. The loan is awarded and…
Release the Helb loans to students immediately – Helb told Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has appealed to the National Treasury to release the…
The Higher Education Loans Board, HELB, has provided official responses to all questions on the agency’s loan products and services. You can get all the…
The Student Portal gives you instant access to a wealth of resources at HELB.
How does it work?
The system is very easy to use. When you register and login you will have access to everything from loan application to allocation and disbursement status. Who can use the portal? Any registered or existing students can have free and unlimited access to the portal.
![Helb Undergraduate First Time Loan Application Form [LAF]](https://newsblaze.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/helb-undergraduate-first-time-loan-application-form-laf_57750.png)
