Pwani University Student Receives Ksh55,200 HELB Upkeep After Complaint
A university student has received Ksh55,200 in upkeep funding from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) after raising a complaint over missing funding.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 12, the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) said it intervened after a student at Pwani University lodged a complaint over the delayed payment.
The student had applied for HELB funding in August 2025 to support her tuition and upkeep expenses while pursuing her studies.
According to the Office of the Ombudsman, HELB processed her tuition funding but did not initially release an upkeep allocation.
The student told the Commission that she was a government-sponsored student at Pwani University and had applied for HELB funding to support her studies. However, while her tuition funding was processed, her upkeep allocation was not released, prompting her to seek the Commission’s intervention.
The Commission took up the matter with HELB through an inquiry dated May 11, 2026, seeking an explanation for the delay.
HELB confirmed that the student qualified as a government-sponsored learner but discovered that she had identified herself as self-sponsored in her original application.
According to the Ombudsman, the error resulted in the student initially receiving only Ksh90,301.80 in tuition funding.
HELB subsequently advised the student to update her sponsorship details on the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Student Portal to reflect her correct status.
The student made the required changes, allowing HELB to reassess her funding.
Following the reassessment, HELB released an additional Ksh55,200 in upkeep funding to the student.
HELB Applicants Advised to Verify Their Details
The resolution of the complaint comes as the application window remains open for first-time HELB applicants seeking loans and scholarships for undergraduate studies and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Students applying for government higher education funding are advised to ensure that all information provided during the application is accurate and reflects their actual circumstances.
Incorrect information, particularly regarding sponsorship status, may affect the amount of funding allocated or cause delays in disbursement.
Students who have already received their funding but believe there is an error in their allocation can log into the HEF Student Portal and submit an appeal, provided they have supporting evidence.
The case also highlights the importance of checking application and funding details carefully and updating any incorrect information as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving allocated funds.
