Èducation Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has said first-year students in universities and TVETs will start receiving their funds from the Higher Education Loans Board next week.
Machogu in a statement on Friday said Helb has finalised the processing of loans for first-year students in universities and TVETs under the New Higher Education Funding Model.
"Consequently, the Ministry wishes to inform successful applicants that the funds will be disbursed to their respective universities and student accounts starting Tuesday, November 7, 2023," Machogu said.
The CS said students expected to receive the funds should ensure their bank details, as provided in their applications are correct and up to date.
This comes after students from Machakos University held demos on Thursday over delays in Helb disbursement.
They took to the streets on Thursday morning forcing some traders within the town to close shops, however, police managed to block them from accessing the central business district to ensure the safety of other residents and their property.
Tear gas canisters were lobbed to disperse the students, leading to the closure of the Machakos – Wote road on which the varsity is located.
Early last month Helb released funds for continuing students in varsities and TVETs.
In a statement, Helb CEO Charles Ringera said the upkeep loans for the more than 175,000 undergraduate and over 70,000 TVET continuing students under the Old Higher Education Funding Model [OFM] were being disbursed.
The funds were disbursed to students as per their respective preferred payment channels (Bank account or HELB Mobile Wallet].
"Higher Learning Institutions (HLIS) - Universities and Colleges are advised to allow students to register as tuition fees to various institutions have also been released and should be reflected in the respective bank accounts of the HLIS by October 5, 2023," Ringera said.