The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has directed applicants who registered for loans using their KCSE index numbers while still minors to update their profiles with national ID details now that they have come of age.
In a statement released on Monday, July 21, HELB provided a step-by-step guide for updating the information through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.
Applicants are required to log into their existing HEF accounts using the same KCSE index numbers used during registration. Once logged in, a pop-up window will prompt them to input their national ID number and first name, exactly as they appear on the ID card. They must then click the “validate” button to proceed.
Once the system confirms the accuracy of the ID information, users will receive a confirmation pop-up and will be required to click the “Register” tab to complete the update.
HELB advised users not to create new accounts, emphasizing the importance of using the original accounts created with their index numbers.
This announcement comes just a week after the board faced scrutiny from lawmakers regarding its loan recovery efforts. On July 15, HELB issued a separate directive reminding loan beneficiaries about the available repayment options, stating that the board had simplified repayment to accommodate various lifestyles.
“We have made your HELB loan repayment simple and flexible with multiple options to suit your lifestyle,” read part of the statement shared on HELB’s official social media channels.
The communication followed an oversight visit by the National Assembly Committee on Education to the HELB offices. Lawmakers sought to understand the implementation status of the New Higher Education Funding Model (NFM), address recovery challenges, and review budget performance.
Committee Chairperson Julius Melly criticised the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) used to allocate loans and scholarships under the new model, citing widespread complaints from affected students and parents.
“One of the issues that we want to hear about is the university funding model and the Means Testing Instrument. It is giving Kenyans sleepless nights,” Melly said.
HELB CEO Geoffrey Monari revealed that out of 1.03 million mature loan accounts, 293,122 accounts—valued at KSh33.2 billion—are currently non-performing.
