As at now, January 14, thousands of students enrolled in universities and TVET institutions under the New Funding Model of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) are yet to receive their upkeep and tuition loans, and many are complaining.
For the majority, their loan application status in the Higher Education Financing Portal is “Still Running” or “Verified”, and they are throwing stones at the government student financier with threats of mini-strikes and class boycotts. Little do they know that the state agency at Anniversary Towers has no hand in their problems.
President William Ruto unveiled the New Higher Education Funding Model on May 3, 2023, aiming to assist every Kenyan student based on their level of need. Most students under this model are currently in their first year and are still completing their first semester.
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The 2024/2025 academic calendar faced disruption last year due to lecturer strikes, causing many higher education institutions to extend the last days of the first semester into early 2025. This has delayed the start of the second semester, which may begin in late January or early February.
Since HELB typically disburses loans on a semesterly basis, students under the New Funding Model are still considered to be in their first semester. Many are currently sitting their examinations, and institutions have not yet updated HELB regarding the start of the next semester. This is the primary reason for the delay in loan disbursement.
In contrast, students under the old funding model—mostly third and fourth years—have already received their batch numbers, and their loans are being processed this week.
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why are the Helb officials getting it wrong ,those in the second year and first year are under the NFM and are really suffering for example me here ,the Landlord has locked the door for me ,I have not completed the fee ,I cannot even sustain myself even with a single meal .Let Helb haste to help us we are suffering ,ama tuingie strike kidogo
From Maseno university
We kijana si kuna chakula ya bure uko Siriba 😂😂 ama kuja ukule kwangu daily sawa just karibu na Niles hostel
Waa,,wewe ni kama c comrade
Ati chakula ya bure iko siriba wapi mzee😂
Hehehe.
are u a comrade ama cone red
acha ujinga
Let’s give them a little bit more time, and wait after examination, if it still persist then we’ll show them that we’re ready for everything… Maseno
Truth be said,the government has neglected it’s duties.The Whole process from being registered to allocation and receiving batch numbers is one month.But most students lack either,they are still at verified stage
We na content 3- 0 go sleep kid
HELB has no knowledge on how students are suffering,,thy can only fetch it from online but the reality is that back to the ground basis students have nothing to go sustain them.Therefore they consider dropping out of school or rather deferring the semester
Plz we ask the government to convene this before it jumps out of hands.Aid us govt we are only surviving thru a thin thread which is about to exhaust..
Fred kagola kibabii University
I have never received my money i have bills to pay plus i need to sustain my self in the University kindly let the Ministry of education department of higher education be responsible
We have been already frustrated 😠 with the New Funding Model…On top of that,,you are still delaying Helb disbursement,,,,please help us with that,,we are stranded and yet we have to pay fees
Am not supporting the NFM,,it is discriminatory,,i was placed in band 5 where i pay 204,000 per year,,and my parents can’t even afford a 1/4 of it, High school i was in Sub county school where i was paying 12k per ,,where can i get that 204k this time ,,No to NFM..
Let us join hands and throw away this NFM
Try appealing
You should appeal your helb loan,
And where were you when people were appealing? We can’t join hands in this but we can show you a good way to follow… Perhaps you ignored this so die on your own ignorance
Remember those who appealed were in band 5 like me but I did,,, run to HudumaCenter now and do it… Seems you’re the people delaying this helb… Wewe ni rich kid you want us to die😂😂
It is important to remember that everyone’s situation is different, and we should not speak harshly about others without understanding their struggles. While you may feel fortunate to be placed in Band One, my parents are enduring immense hardship trying to keep me in school, yet they cannot afford to pay anything. Despite organizing a fundraiser, the money raised didn’t even cover my first semester fees. I followed all the steps to appeal for funding, but nothing has changed, and the fees remain unbearably high. I’m now uncertain whether I’ll be able to continue my course, and the thought of my dreams dying due to the new funding model is heartbreaking. By the time I finish my six-year course, I’ll have paid 1.1 million in fees and still owe 1.6 million in loans. This funding model is creating unnecessary suffering for poor students like me, and it needs to be reconsidered. Let’s approach such issues with love and understanding, as the most excellent way to address any challenge is through compassion.
It is important to remember that everyone’s situation is different, and we should not speak harshly about others without understanding their struggles. While you may feel fortunate to be placed in Band One, my parents are enduring immense hardship trying to keep me in school, yet they cannot afford to pay anything. Despite organizing a fundraiser, the money raised didn’t even cover my first semester fees. I followed all the steps to appeal for funding, but nothing has changed, and the fees remain unbearably high. I’m now uncertain whether I’ll be able to continue my course, and the thought of my dreams dying due to the new funding model is heartbreaking. By the time I finish my six-year course, I’ll have paid 1.1 million in fees and still owe 1.6 million in loans. This funding model is creating unnecessary suffering for poor students like me, and it needs to be reconsidered. Let us consider the majority of poor people who are suffering. We are not opposing good ideas, but there is something wrong with this new funding model that needs to be addressed. Let’s approach such issues with love and understanding, as the most excellent way to address any challenge is through compassion.
When you appeal they do consider ,not unless you are lying mm nlitolewa band 4 to band 1 when I appealled I sincerely couldn’t afford the fees
How did you appeal ?my friend l have the same problem
The new funding model is a disgrace to us students from the government. The disbursement is by far unfair and the authorities have continued to neglect the concerns raised by us students. Some are placed in the so called bands! If the NFM is to remain then bands 3, 4 and 5 should be abolished !
An Actuarial student,,…Maseno !
Just do something to nfm students 5894 we’re suffering for real 6 months still not paid to account
Please let the government know that the NFM is by far unfair !
I’m currently in kenyatta university and we are in our second semester not first I just hope the HELB institute resolves the issues fast because I haven’t received my upkeep since last semester and it makes life hard
There is something the Government through the ministry of Education is hiding. At the Anniversary Tower ,Helb center they have all the complains from the comrade.Some of the complains are;
1) The helb portal doesn’t reflect students full details that’s includes, batch no. Band no , Money allocated and upkeep.
2: I went to HELB CENTER to ask why my portal is not reflecting all my details and I was told that I didn’t applied for schoolership. Like seriously!! Then what am I doing in public university? I haven’t yet received my upkeep from last semester.
3:Many comrades portal are reading allocated or Disbursement since day one and they haven’t received even the last semester upkeep. Ruto please just press the send money option we are dying.
Lastly let the official in helb give our clear clarification on what the comrades what’s to hear they know what we want to hear . From JKUAT THANK YOU
For sure we are suffering,,,, may the government please hasten the process for us,,,like me personally I havent payed for a a place to stay,,, still confused, even a single meal a day has become a problem ,,,I’m just urging the government to do something about it,,,thank you
All I need is help, and I need help from the Helb. Let them be humble and disburse the Upkeep to our wallet since economy isn’t favouring as now. I’m really finding it hard to have a single meal a day. Please help. Benjamin Omondi from MMUST
It will be good when the government give us a clear follow through
delay on allocation
We are malnutritioned here trying to look for greener pasture in future which is indeed ironic…comrades `wanainama” due to lack of funds to fund their daily needs.Please stop excuse and release our funds.Egerton University have already updated Helb so release our funds.
I updated my id in the hef portal now it’s saying I didn’t apply for helb loan now what do I do when I don’t even any money to sustain me and even to pay for my remaining fees please help
Am at a risk of not sitting for my end semester examination simply because the institution has not yet received a confirmation of my fee clearance by the helb ,,sustainability is a problem to me and am a risk of leaving school. Please do something
The government should come up with a new idea of solving the problem of the NFM instead of remaining silent yet the comrades are struggling with education in colleges,by now they should either be placed in old model or received upkeep under NFM since the budget for the financial year was already made
Kaeni naizo pesa atuzitaki kama Ivo Ndio mnaona namjilipe izo madeni zengine nugu
NFM ni ya Nini kama haisaidii rudisheni ya kitambo at least ilikua inalipa nkt
What about those in private university who were given loans without scholarships any hope for them?
Batch 5846 we are also suffering since last semester whats not happening
It’s time the government should stop discriminating and oppressing comrades with impunity,we’ve really endured a lot,,from last semester till now.No the helb in collaboration with the government of Kenya must now take this matter seriously ,failure to which we won’t entertain this mediocrity at all.Jaguar Clinton (Rongo university)
Why is that batch number 5971 delaying and it’s already dispersed
There is a rise of a new species of third year and fourth year students opposing the new funding model, they are the main cause why our funds are being delayed while they are receiving theirs. Waachane na maneno yetu after all it doesn’t affect them.
I don’t know why even allocation have delayed this time. My portal still displays disbursement of late academic year. Mfanye kitu walahi mambo si kuzuri
What about the universities where exams were done for semester one, we are struggling
They are doing the right thing manze,we have to oppose this thing maybe we uko band 1 unapewa 30k upkeep ndo unajua iko sawa.Those in band 4 and 5 tunasuffer msee.Better you.Msiniabduct please that is my thinking though.
Really suffering as students.
Kindly may the government take immediate action to solve the issues.
#universty of eldoret.
Actually I dunno wtf Is going on. Buh I just want our funds to be disbursed as quick as possible..
This is the worst government we are associating with.i can’t imagine how an official in the hef sector who enjoyed free education from the only special president Mwai kibaki is watching comrades suffer.
From machakos university once we are done with this exam well show you how talented we are in protesting.
I really wonder how an organism in the hef board who enjoyed free education from kibaki is watching comrades plead all day all night for there rights.this is so disheartening.the only thing holding protest is this exam.once we are through well show you how talented we are.
#mksu
I to have not received mine so please government do something we are suffering
Am a student from Turkana university college for us we did our Exams before being dismissed to go home a holiday .As for me I never went home since I had no money with me.so this is our second semester and we are being told no one will attend class without having paid 20%of the fees this semester .Apart from that like me I don’t have any other support my mum is really struggling to take care of my siblings.my upkeep pays almost all of my bills but not all . starting from rent ,food,,e.t.clike right now I haven’t paid rent for two months ,no food to eat .I feel like I’m finished
The government should act upon helb disbursement to student we are lacking basic things
Kisii university
We’re still verified for semester one you people should get that
Crap. The complains are for disbursements for the first semester and not the second one. This article seems to be vindicating the government. Truth be told, no funds have been released since last August.
We are really suffering am a second year in Mmust,the government pays for me a little and the remaining 84,000 per year is for my parents and I have colleagues in class who are paying 26000 per year,yet they have parents who are employed by the government parents who can sustain their needs,I have other two siblings in campus, I have other siblings in highskul and primary,my parents cannot afford to pay for all of us.We really need back the new funding model,we are suffering. Apa ady sijalipa rent,my 2 siblings haven’t paid that rent,my family wanaishi kwa rentals hawajalipa rent pia kwangu akuna food,like what is this really😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
For real it is very embarrassing how the government is taking 1st and 2nd years for granted. Have the third and fourth years began their semester? Why are they only making students of NFM suffer with and excuse of disbursement of money semesterly?
Where it is reaching I think the only language that helb can’t understand is demonstration. There are many students who are sleeping with empty stomachs. They can’t even concentrate on their academics. Why is helb doing this to comrades for real?
In my humble opinion, I believe that comrades have been patient enough. It is the time that they should raise their voice. This government is behaving like people suffering from epilepsy and selective amnesia. We ain’t lunatics to be deceived again. Enough is enough and we are tired.
From Kibabii University.
As I type my help status is at verification stage since last year,someone to help me with 3k I pay rent 0794722659
Kuna sisi (batch 5846) wenye hatujapata hata za last semester,,, what’s the issue
What I recommend is the NFM to be abolished and the Old funding model to be put in place that can be better
Wee Kiprono both NFM and OFM are still in the first semester but the OFM lot has already been credited the Sem 2 funds
Do your research before posting
Hi. Also read the article before commenting. Hehe
Just pay the upkeep funds for New Funding Model other court regularities should follow during long holidays …as students we are suffering and stuffing….those saying NFM should be abolished they have already received because they are in OFM.they are the one helding us back
Majority of us are suffering due to anger issues
The big problem with the new funding model is that the scholarships are delaying forcing many parents to toil looking for thousands of money for payment of fees so we urge the government to release the scholarships as early as possible before exams commence we still waiting for the helb money we’re going through tough times
surely did the new model of funding had an intension to keep us in school ?or punish us. persuing education in kenya is now like filling a skyplast using a spoon.
even if the ruling dishonered it, should we now go through all this just in expence of other people.
how would i even deep my head to books and course work with an empty stomach, dirty weres, stressed mind and a sole hoping for good only to destine to worst.
we are fu***ng tired of waiting for the disbursement,,,,,landlord is already on my neck na ndio hata sem 2 haijaanza,,,sirikaaaali jameni
I am a third year and I haven’t received my helb eish nakufa karatina
waa,mimi sijapata ya 1st sem na 2nd sem 2nd year,na bado naona 295shs zinzongezwa kwa deni every month,sasa nimeacha shule,mukiacha shule nitapin location we start creating our own orppotunities and jobs,najua ni ngumu lakini sasa tutafanya nini,helb na wazazi wametuacha,mimi nikaona wao ndo wanataka nisome na hawalipi fee na upkeep so nimeondokea shule nifanye kenye nataka nijisaidie,though ni tough,before i forget,i sell weed in grams and how you like it different strains,alafu nikiomoka mitawashow my Gs,siwezi toka block but nitajenga block,peace
gava inatunyima dooh intentionally ndo tuache shule,washoo nimepata message nishaacha shule