HELB under fire as 2024 beneficiaries left stranded despite disbursement assurances

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is facing mounting criticism from students across the country, particularly those enrolled in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, over delayed or missing disbursements for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Despite public assurances from HELB CEO Geoffrey Monari that the funding process is running smoothly, many students say they have yet to receive a single shilling.

While HELB’s official communication paints a picture of efficiency and progress, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Students who were approved for loans and bursaries months ago are still waiting for the funds to reflect in their school or personal accounts. In some cases, the delays have had severe consequences as students have been barred from sitting exams, forced to defer their studies, or denied access to academic records due to unpaid tuition.

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What has further fueled frustration is HELB’s recent move to open applications for the 2025/2026 financial year, even as unresolved issues from the previous cycle persist. Students say this decision feels like a betrayal, as it signals the board is moving forward without addressing the backlog of pending disbursements.

One affected student, who shared their experience, revealed that only a few bursary payments were processed after the government reinstated the old funding model. The majority of approved funds for the 2024/2025 year remain undisbursed, leaving students in limbo. Screenshots from HELB portals show applications marked as successful, yet no money has been received months later.

The student confirmed being locked out of exams due to unpaid fees, fees that HELB was supposed to cover. “We were told everything is fine, but nothing is fine,” the student said. “We’re being left behind while HELB opens a new application cycle.”

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As the new financial year begins, students are demanding accountability. They want HELB to explain why approved funds were not released and how it intends to resolve the crisis before onboarding new applicants. For many, the board’s silence and inaction have eroded trust in a system meant to support their education.

Unless urgent steps are taken to address the disbursement delays, more students risk being pushed out of school not because of academic failure, but because of a system that has delivered silence.

By Masaki Enock