The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has stated that all beneficiaries who have yet to secure formal employment and have completed a 1-year grace period should submit a notification every 6 months.
Speaking in an interview with The Kenya Times, the HELB C.E.O., Mr. Geoffrey Monari, said that recovering loans has been the biggest challenge, as thousands of beneficiaries have been defaulting on repayments, hindering the ability to lend again.
According to Mr. Monari, HELB has recovered a total of KSh46 billion to date, with KSh5.2 billion recovered in 2025.
The board is targeting to recover KSh6 billion in 2026. He emphasized that HELB has put in place measures to ensure the target is achieved so that HELB continous funding other students.
“We’re putting all measures to ensure we surpass that target because with that we will be able to fund more students” he said
Also Read: HELB Begins Mandatory Salary Deductions for Employed Kenyans
HELB Defaulters
On July 15, 2025, the National Assembly’s Committee on Education raised concerns over the growing number of graduates with unpaid loans at the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), amounting to KSh33.2 billion.
The concerns came during an oversight visit to HELB offices in Nairobi, and the visit focused on the implementation of the New Higher Education Funding Model (NFM among others.
Also Read: KUCCPS Lists Colleges Where Students Are Eligible for HELB Loans in 2026
Helb to take Action
Monari urged the beneficiaries with formal jobs to start their payment as soon as possible; failure to do so, the HELB will take action against them by submitting their names to CRB or Debt collectors and Credit information sharing.
Away from recovery, Monari also clarified that they’ve already disbursed the loan to Students for the second semester.
He further urged students to apply for the loan if they need it and to declare their household so they can receive the loan they deserve.
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