Students waiting for Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) upkeep money have been assured that disbursements are continuing despite the planned nationwide lecturers’ strike.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) is set to begin a strike on Friday, October 2, 2026, over issues including delayed pay agreements and concerns surrounding the new university funding model.
However, the planned industrial action is not expected to stop the processing and disbursement of student upkeep funds.
HELB responds to student funding concerns
The assurance comes after students raised concerns about delays in funding as the new academic year approaches.
In one recent case, a student complained on social media that they were still listed as “allocated” but had not been assigned a batch number for their upkeep payment.
The student said they had received their upkeep much earlier during the previous academic year and asked HELB to provide an update.
HELB responded that its officials had contacted the student by phone and provided guidance on the issue.
Students told to check their portals
Students who have applied for funding are encouraged to regularly check their HELB/HEF portal for updates on their applications.
The portal can be used to check important details, including loan allocation and disbursement status.
Applications for the 2026/2027 academic year are also open for first-time undergraduate and TVET students seeking loans, scholarships and bursaries. Continuing students can also submit subsequent loan applications.
Funding shortage has affected students
The funding concerns come as HELB continues to deal with financial pressure.
The board has previously reported that about 140,000 university and TVET students had not received funding because of a financing shortfall, with an estimated KSh5.7 billion required to cover the gap.
The government has since indicated that additional funding has been made available to support student financing.
For students still waiting for upkeep, the key step is to keep checking their portal and confirm that their application details are correct.
The planned lecturers’ strike may affect learning activities in universities, but students’ upkeep disbursements are continuing separately.
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