The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced that five loan and scholarship batches have been processed and dispatched to learning institutions across Kenya. This development brings relief to thousands of students dependent on government funding. The announcement was made through HELB's official social media channels on Tuesday, October 8, 2026. The disbursement update attracted significant attention, with over 23,000 views within hours of being posted.
According to HELB, the five batches confirmed as successfully processed and sent to institutions are: HELB-007132, HELB-007139, HELB-007145, HELB-007146, and HELB-007147. This information was shared through an infographic accompanying the announcement. The board continues to process and disburse funds to students in need, as part of its mandate to widen access to higher education.
Students in the affected batches can verify whether their money has come through by logging into the official HELB student portal and reviewing their account statement. Alternatively, they can visit the finance or bursar's office at their respective university or college to confirm receipt of the funds. This ensures that students can easily access information about their funding status.
For students still waiting on their disbursements or those with queries about their loan accounts, HELB has highlighted the availability of the USSD code *642#. This code allows mobile phone users to check their loan status quickly without internet access. The board's efforts aim to improve the speed and efficiency with which funds reach institutions.
The disbursement is part of HELB's ongoing mandate to widen access to higher education under its "Empowering Dreams" theme. This theme guides the board's efforts to reduce the financial obstacles that can disrupt students' academic progress. By processing these batches, HELB continues to push for improved efficiency in fund disbursement.
Recently, HELB responded to students whose batch assignment changed while they waited for their loan payment. The board confirmed that processing was underway and that the students remained in the queue. This change affected some students, causing concerns about delays and financial strain.
HELB has not provided a specific payment date for affected students but has urged applicants to check that their confirmation letters and payment details were correctly recorded. The board's efforts aim to ensure that students receive the necessary funding to pursue their academic goals.
Key points
- The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed funds to students in five new batches.
- Students can verify their funding status through the HELB student portal, their institution's bursar office, or via the USSD code *642#.
- The disbursement is part of HELB's ongoing mandate to widen access to higher education under its "Empowering Dreams" theme.
