President William Ruto has assured university and college students that delayed Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds will be released by Friday, March 14, 2025.

Speaking on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Ruto acknowledged the delays, which have left thousands of students struggling to pay tuition and cover their daily expenses.

“There has been a bit of confusion with HELB. Yesterday, I met with the relevant Cabinet Secretary, and we identified the issues at the HELB board,” he said

The President confirmed that the Head of Public Service had intervened, and all outstanding funds would be released before the end of the week.

“I have instructed that by Friday, the money should be released to our young people across Kenya so that everyone can have their resources,” he stated.

Jokingly Ruto urged students to contact him personally if the money was not credited to their accounts by the set deadline.  

“If by Friday the money has not been deposited into your accounts, call me. There are some individuals I will straighten out,” he added.  

Students protest over HELB delay

The delay in HELB disbursement had sparked nationwide student protests, with learners demanding immediate action.

On February 3, 2025, university students from the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University staged demonstrations in Nairobi, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The students, citing financial struggles, engaged police in running battles as they decried the government’s failure to disburse funds meant for tuition, accommodation, and upkeep.

“I have had a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba over three times and anytime I visit his office he only gives false promises. We are also surprised that he has developed a divide-and-rule style of management where some universities have had their monies disbursed with others being forced to wait. We will be in these streets until money reflects on our accounts,” Kenya University Students Association (KUSA) President Anthony Manyara stated.

The situation escalated as Kenyatta University students blocked sections of the Thika Superhighway, disrupting traffic for hours.

Manyara warned that continued delays could affect class attendance and even prevent students from sitting for their exams.

“Class attendance has been very low. You walk into a lecture room and you will find no one attending the class. With the current economic hardships students are here trying to look for some money to eat. They can’t go back to their homes since their parents also have nothing to give them,” he said.

According to KUSA, nearly 80 per cent of students were at risk of missing exams due to financial constraints.

Funds disbursed

Following the protests, the government released Ksh3.32 billion to support First- and Second-Year university students under the 2024/25 academic year.

In a statement issued on February 4, 2025, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba confirmed that the funds had been disbursed through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

“The government disbursed a total of Ksh3.32 Billion by January 31, 2025, for First and Second Year students during the 2024/2025 Academic Year. The disbursements, made through the Higher Education Loans Board, cover students’ upkeep. The upkeep loans, which are a critical component for fostering student welfare, range from Ksh40,000 to Ksh60,000 per student,” Ogamba stated.

“The latest disbursements are part of the funds that had already been appropriated in July 2024, in the context of the current Financial Year’s budgetary and appropriation framework,” he added.