HELB releases five new student loan batches as thousands await funding – how to check your status

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced the processing and disbursement of funds for five additional student loan batches, offering relief to learners who have been waiting for government funding to support their studies.

In an update issued on Thursday, October 8, HELB confirmed that batches HELB-007139, HELB-007145, HELB-007147, HELB-007146 and HELB-007132 had been processed and the funds sent to the respective universities and colleges.

“Good news students! Batches HELB-007139, 007145, 007147, 007146 and 007132 have been processed and disbursed to institutions,” HELB said.

The announcement is likely to ease some of the pressure facing students who have been waiting for their tuition funding as institutions continue with the 2026/27 academic year.

Five HELB batches confirmed

The latest update covers five batches:

• HELB-007139
• HELB-007145
• HELB-007147
• HELB-007146
• HELB-007132

HELB has not disclosed the total amount released under the five batches or the exact number of students covered.

The board has instead urged affected students to check their individual funding status and contact their institutions for confirmation.

Importantly, the latest announcement does not mean every student waiting for HELB funding has now been paid. Students whose batch numbers do not appear on the list will have to continue monitoring official HELB updates for subsequent disbursements.

How to check your HELB disbursement status

Students whose batches have been listed can begin by logging into their HELB student portal and checking their loan information.

They can also contact the finance or bursar’s office at their university or college to establish whether the institution has received the money and whether it has been reflected in their fee account.

The distinction is important because tuition funds are sent to institutions, rather than being paid directly to students.

HELB also provides digital services through its student portal and USSD platform. The board’s official website lists *642# among its self-service channels.

Students should rely on their individual portal records and official HELB communication rather than assuming that a batch announcement automatically means money is immediately available in their personal account.

Upkeep payments may follow a different process

Students should also distinguish between tuition and upkeep funding.

While tuition is paid to the institution, upkeep is intended to support students with living expenses. Recent HELB guidance reported by Kenyan media indicates that students receiving upkeep through M-Pesa may need to wait for a SurePay confirmation message before accessing the money.

This means a student could see that a batch has been processed while still having to wait for the subsequent communication required to access an upkeep payment.

Why students are still waiting

The latest announcement comes amid continuing concerns from students over delays in loan and upkeep payments.

HELB recently responded to a student who said his batch number had changed from 2704 to 7114 after he submitted a confirmation letter from his dean.

The student asked the board for an update, expressing frustration about the wait.

HELB replied: “Processing of payment of your loan is underway. Please note that you are in queue for confirmation of your batch ahead of payment.”

The response suggested that a change in batch number did not necessarily mean the student’s application had been rejected or removed from consideration.

For students still waiting, the board has continued to emphasise the importance of checking that required information and documentation has been properly submitted.

Government funding under pressure as demand grows

The latest disbursement comes as Kenya continues to expand government support for higher education while demand for loans and scholarships remains high.

HELB’s official website says applications for the 2026/27 academic year opened for first-time applicants seeking undergraduate or TVET loans, scholarships and bursaries, while subsequent-loan applications were also opened through the board’s digital channels.

The government is therefore facing the challenge of moving funds through the financing system quickly enough to support students and institutions during the academic year.

For learners, however, the immediate question remains whether their individual tuition and upkeep payments have been processed.

What students should do now

Students whose batch numbers appear in the latest HELB announcement should:

1. Log into the HELB student portal and check their current status.
2. Confirm with their university or college finance of