The Higher Education Loans Board is encouraging first-time and continuing undergraduate and TVET students to take advantage of the current window and apply for loans and scholarships.
In an update, the board said as of August 6, 554,620 students had already made applications.
The number comprises 390,499 undergraduate students and 164,121 TVET learners.
“Don’t miss out, apply now and secure your funding,” Helb said in a public notice.
Meanwhile, the loan agency is appealing to beneficiaries of the scheme to repay their loans for the continued sustenance of the fund.
Chief executive officer Geoffrey Monari said in a statement on Wednesday that over a quarter million Kenyans have defaulted on their loans, amounting to Sh32 billion.
“As of June 30, 2025, 67.5 per cent of the loan book was performing; 32.5 per cent of the portfolio remains at risk, with about 256,000 Kenyans holding Sh32 billion in default.”
Monari said they are doing everything within their capacity to recover the funds through innovative ways, and are exploring new models like social bonds and crowdfunding.
“We are tackling this through employer engagement, outreach to past beneficiaries of the scheme, smarter policies and stronger accountability. We have mobilised Sh3.3 billion from 43 partners, including counties, corporates and development partners,” he said.
In the 2024-25 financial year, Monari said Helb allocated Sh36.5 billion in loans and Sh16.9 billion in scholarships.
By June 2025, the entire Sh53.4 billion had been disbursed to 72,000 students.
The loan agency is encouraging defaulters to repay their loans via a simplified method using USSD code *642#.
Other options are the Helb mobile app, loanee self-service portal and employer portal.
"Repaying your loans is more than just an obligation; it's a powerful investment in the future of countless people," the agency said.
The USSD option will prompt you to log in and select the ‘Loan Repayment’ option from the menu, enter your ID number, confirm the outstanding loan balance, enter the amount and confirm payment.
An SMS confirming payment will be sent to the user.
“If you pay your loan in a lump sum, you get an 80 per cent penalty waiver,” Monari said.
Since 1974, at the inception of the University Students Loan Scheme (USLS) and the Loan Disbursement and Recovery Unit (LDRU), the government has disbursed Sh179 billion to over 1.7 million Kenyans.
“Yes, there’s still a funding gap and we are actively engaging the National Treasury and our partners to close it,” Monari said.
