The government plans to extend Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding to all eligible university students regardless of whether they attend public or private institutions, according to the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research.
Announcing the shift this month, the PS said the reform is intended to create a fairer, more inclusive funding framework as Kenya moves toward a universal higher education financing model, rather than one that favors public university enrollees.
The change comes as HELB opens applications for the 2026/2027 academic year for first-time applicants seeking undergraduate and TVET loans, scholarships and bursaries, with a September 8 deadline. The board has also opened applications for its Jielimishe loan programme, which offers salaried Kenyans financing of up to Ksh 600,000 for further education, with repayment periods of 12 to 48 months.
HELB is set to open its disbursement window for the 2025/2026 academic year on August 15.
The funding overhaul comes amid continued financial strain in the higher education sector. The Kenya National Examinations Council has flagged a Ksh 6.7 billion funding shortfall as it prepares to administer national exams to 3.5 million learners this year, and some universities have cut fees by as much as 40 percent as HELB disbursements begin, amid a sector-wide funding deficit estimated at Ksh 260 billion.
The Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has already released its 2026 list of institutions eligible for both HELB loans and government scholarships, covering 43 universities.
Officials say further details on eligibility criteria and disbursement timelines for private university students will be released as the funding model is finalized.
