The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has made changes in the process of paying back student loans.
In a notice published on Tuesday, December 5, HELB announced that it had integrated its system with the eCitizen payment platform in line with the requirement to have all government services under a unified platform.
Consequently, all payments to HELB will be remitted through the eCitizen gateway.
“HELB has seamlessly integrated with the eCitizen Payment Platform,” the notice read in part.
“Payments to HELB will henceforth be channeled through the HELB systems (USSD, Mobile App, Loanee Portal or Employer Portal) to the eCitizen gateway.”
HELB loanees, according to the notice, will henceforth pay via prompts generated through USSD code or the mobile app.
HELB payment to E-Citizen via USSD
For the first option, the USSD, the loanee will dial *642* to either log in or register.
Subsequently, select loan payment option, select Mpesa as the mode of payment.
Then enter your amount followed by the Mpesa pin to complete the transaction.
Also Read: KRA, Kenya Power CEOs Among Bosses Summoned
Upon completion, you will then receive notifications via SMS from E-Citizen and HELB.
Mobile App
For those using the HELB mobile app, you will be required to first download the mobile from Play Store.
Log in if you have an account or register to create one on the system.
Once successfully logged in, select the pay loan option and confirm the phone number you are using and the amount you intend to pay.
You will then receive a prompt and later key in your Mpesa pin to complete the payment.
To confirm receipt of your payment, HELB and E-citizen will send you SMS notifications.
The same payments can be made via the Self-service portal through www.helb.co.ke.
After logging in, select the self-service option on the menu followed by loan payment.
Then select make payment and amount to pay and later click ‘Pay”.
You will then receive a notification to confirm. Once you have confirmed, the system will display to you the various options for payment.
Select your preferred option and follow the prompts before clicking on complete.
Remittance process for Employers
Employers too will remit HELB deductions to the HELB gateway in line with the government policy.
Also Read: KRA Announces New Paybill Number for Tax Payment
The process will begin by uploading the remittance list. Then verify all the details entered and click “confirm” button.
Upon confirmation print e-slip. Then click on the Payments option on the Menu before choosing the remittance record you want to pay.
The employer will then click on “Make Payment” button.
On the pop-up screen, key in the phone number that will receive eCitizen Notification and later click “Process Payment”.
Also Read: President Ruto Merges all Govt Paybill Numbers into One
Then choose your desired mode and proceed to initiate payment. Once payment is completed, the record will be automatically updated.
On the menu, click on statements to view updated and paid remittances and generate the Receipt.
The new integration comes on the back of the government’s resolve to have a unified system for payments of all services.
In June, President William Ruto ushered the nation to a new era of digitized government services and unveiled a unified paybill for over 1,000 services.
Later in November, Head of Public Service summoned HELB CEO, among 16 others, over their failure to comply with the requirement t and continued use of the old payment systems.
