HELB Opens 2026/27 Loan Applications for Continuing Students as Treasury Proposes Record Ksh58 Billion Funding
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially opened applications for subsequent loans for continuing university and college students for the 2026/2027 academic year, offering a major boost to learners seeking financial support ahead of the new academic cycle.
In an announcement issued on June 1, HELB urged eligible continuing students to submit their applications before the deadline through its digital platforms.
“The HELB Subsequent Loan Application for 2026/2027 is officially open from 1st June 2026,” the board announced.
“All continuing students can now apply via USSD *642#.”
The latest announcement comes just days after HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari stated that the loan application portal would be opened in the second week of July for first-time applicants joining universities and colleges under the 2026 intake.
Speaking on May 28, Monari explained that the delay was necessary to allow key administrative processes to be completed before the portal could be made available to new applicants.
“The HELB portal will be opened in the second week of July after a number of key procedures by the board, and other related bodies have been aligned,” Monari said.
According to the CEO, the board was awaiting the completion of placement exercises by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), which would enable eligible students to begin their loan applications.
“I want to assure all students, parents and stakeholders that they should be able to apply for their loans online when we open. We are just waiting for KUCCPS to complete their placement so that we can open, most probably by the second week of July,” he added.
While continuing students can now access the application system, first-time applicants will be required to register through the official HELB student portal once it becomes available.
New applicants will be expected to provide detailed personal and academic information, including their KCPE and KCSE index numbers, valid email address, telephone contact, passport-size photograph, national identification card, birth certificate for minors, parents’ identification details, guarantor information and copies of any sponsorship letters received during secondary school.
The development comes amid renewed government efforts to strengthen student financing through increased budgetary allocations.
In the 2026/2027 financial year, the National Treasury has proposed a record Ksh58 billion allocation to student loans and scholarships, marking a significant increase from the previous Ksh41 billion allocation.
The additional funding is expected to support implementation of the Student-Centred Funding Model and ease financial pressures facing thousands of students across the country.
However, HELB continues to grapple with significant financial challenges despite the proposed increase. In recent years, the board has repeatedly warned of a funding deficit after requiring more than Ksh112 billion in one financial year while receiving less than half of that amount, leaving many eligible students without support.
The board’s revolving loan fund has also come under pressure due to rising loan defaults, with non-performing loans exceeding Ksh30 billion. The challenge has largely been attributed to high youth unemployment and income instability among graduates, making loan repayment increasingly difficult.
The opening of applications for continuing students is therefore expected to provide relief to thousands of beneficiaries who rely on HELB funding to sustain their studies as institutions prepare for the 2026/2027 academic year.
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