Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera Monari has warned university and college students against missing classes, stating that loan disbursements are subject to strict verification.
Speaking on Tuesday morning during an interview on Spice FM, Monari explained that HELB could reclaim funds from students who fail to attend classes. He stressed that the loans board was equally keen on recovering money mistakenly disbursed to wrong or inactive accounts, though such issues are resolved quickly once students make follow-ups.
To avoid delays, the CEO urged learners to always ensure their bank accounts remain active and that their mobile money transfer information is correct. “We must ensure the student is in class and that the details match. A lot of due diligence is done before disbursing the loan,” Monari said.
The remarks came after some students expressed frustration over delays in receiving their upkeep funds. Acknowledging the concern, Monari assured that the board was working to resolve outstanding cases and fast-track disbursements. He encouraged students who have not received their funds to reach out through HELB’s official contacts or tag the board on its social media platforms.
So far, HELB has disbursed Ksh21 billion for the first semester, with Ksh18 billion allocated to university students and Ksh3 billion to college students. Monari also revealed that the government has developed a system enabling institutions to track how much each student receives from HELB.
This update comes just weeks after the Ministry of Education announced an increased allocation to HELB—from Ksh36 billion in the last financial year to Ksh41 billion in the 2025/2026 budget. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba noted that the funding boost is part of government efforts to ensure no student is left behind due to financial hardship.
With the new measures, HELB is emphasizing accountability while reaffirming its commitment to supporting students’ education journeys.
