The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially opened the subsequent loan and scholarship application window for continuing students seeking financial support for the 2026/2027 academic year.
In an announcement made on its social media platforms on Monday, June 1, HELB invited eligible continuing students to apply for funding to support their studies.
“The HELB Subsequent Loan Application for 2026/2027 is officially open from June 1, 2026,” the board said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Students seeking continued financial assistance have been advised to submit their applications through the USSD code *642# using the mobile phone number registered with HELB.
The opening of the application portal follows earlier assurances by HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari that continuing students would soon be able to access the funding application system.
Speaking during the Sema na Spox: Bonga na Gava podcast on May 28, Monari confirmed that the board was finalising preparations to facilitate applications for both continuing and first-time beneficiaries.
He noted that applications for first-time students are expected to open in the second week of July after the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) completes the ongoing placement process.
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“We are just waiting for KUCCPS to complete their placement so that we can be able to open, most probably by the second week of July,” Monari said.
The HELB CEO urged prospective applicants to begin preparing the necessary documentation to ensure a smooth application process once the portal is opened.
According to HELB guidelines, first-time applicants will be required to provide a valid email address, active mobile phone number, and their KCPE and KCSE index numbers.
Applicants will also need to upload a passport-size photograph, a scanned two-sided PDF copy of their National Identity Card or Maisha Card, and a birth certificate for applicants who are minors.
For loan disbursement purposes, students must provide bank account details or a registered M-Pesa number that corresponds with their identification documents.
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Additionally, applicants will be required to submit identification and contact details of their parents or guardians, as well as those of two guarantors.
Students whose parents are deceased must upload a copy of the relevant death certificate, while those who benefited from secondary school sponsorship programmes will be required to provide sponsorship letters as supporting documents.
The latest application cycle comes as HELB continues to play a critical role in financing higher education, enabling thousands of Kenyan students to access university and college education through government-backed loans and scholarships.
By Frank Mugwe
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