Thousands of university and TVET students in Kenya are facing uncertainty as the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has yet to update the “semester 2” column on its student portal, leaving many without confirmation of their second instalment of upkeep and tuition loans as of late December 2025.
The issue affects continuing students under both the old and new funding models, who typically see their annual loan awards split into two semesterly portions on the portal.
While some students received their first-semester disbursements earlier in the year, the absence of the second-semester column has sparked complaints online and on social media, with students worried about covering fees and living expenses heading into 2026, when they will report to their respective schools come January.
Why the delay?
The Higher Education Loans Board has not yet updated the Semester 2 column on many students’ portals as of December 31, 2025, largely because the current academic year (2025/2026) is still in its early stages after disruptions due to lecturers’ strike that occurred in the year.
Until universities and colleges officially verify and submit Semester 2 attendance data to HELB, the portal will not reflect updated allocations or batch numbers for the new term. This is a standard process under the student-centred funding model to prevent errors and ensure funds go directly to actively enrolled students.
Earlier in 2025, similar frustrations arose when academic calendar disruptions from the same lecturer strikes pushed semester transitions into the new year, delaying recognitions of “semester 2” for many under the New Funding Model.
What to do
Students are advised to regularly check their portal, contact HELB support, or reach out to their institutions for updates.
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