Helb releases Sh1.6bn loans for varsity students after protests

Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has released Sh1.6 billion for continuing students after a week of protests over delay in disbursing the funds.

Chief executive Charles Ringera said the money is for 101,938 students in public universities.

“A total of Sh143 million for tuition has already been disbursed to their universities and the balance of Sh261 million will be released by Wednesday next week,” he said in a statement.

Mr Ringera added that Sh1 billion loans for 25,539 self-sponsored students for this academic year would be paid in January, according to the payment cycle.

“The balance of 8,579 government sponsored students in public universities will be paid once their opening dates are advised by the respective deans,” he said.

However, more than 74,000 first year students in public universities and another 12,000 government-sponsored students in private universities will continue to wait  earliest October to get their loans despite some having reported to the learning institutions last month.

“The board continues to call on first time undergraduate applicants who are yet to apply or submit their application forms to the board to do so before the deadline of September 30,” said Mr Ringera.

So far, he said, more than 85,000 students had submitted their application for loans.

Mr Ringera attributed the delay in disbursement to late posting of admission letters to students.

He added that technical, vocational education and training first time loan applications are ongoing.