The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released Ksh1.56 billion in tuition and upkeep loans to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainees and university students.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, in a statement on Tuesday, March 18, confirmed that the funds were disbursed on Friday, March 14, benefiting 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,863 university students.
According to the CS, students have been notified and advised to check their HELB portals for updates.
This latest disbursement is part of the ongoing financial aid program for the 2024/2025 Financial Year. So far, HELB has disbursed a total of Ksh32.7 billion in tuition and upkeep loans.
Ogamba further noted that financial support has now reached 195,522 TVET trainees and 390,612 university students.
*”The provision of this funding will ensure that student and trainee needs are met, enabling them to continue with their academic, training, and research programs without hindrance.
“The Government will continue to provide financial support to university students and TVET trainees towards the attainment of their academic and training goals,”* he stated.
President William Ruto had earlier assured students that the funds would be disbursed by Friday, March 14, after acknowledging delays.
Speaking during his tour of Nairobi on Wednesday, March 12, Ruto explained that steps had been taken to resolve the matter, including intervention by the Head of Public Service.
*”I understand that there have been challenges with HELB disbursement. Yesterday, I met with the CS; there had been challenges at the HELB board, and today, the Head of Public Service is handling the matter.
“I have instructed them to ensure that the money reaches the students’ accounts by Friday so that everyone can have their resources,”* he stated.
