A student at Pwani University has been allocated Ksh55,200 in upkeep funds from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) following intervention by the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) over delayed disbursement.
The student, a government-sponsored beneficiary, applied for HELB funding in August 2025 to cover both tuition and upkeep expenses. While her tuition fees were processed, the upkeep allocation was initially withheld.
The CAJ launched an inquiry after the student raised a complaint about the missing upkeep funds. HELB revealed that the delay stemmed from the student mistakenly identifying herself as self-sponsored in her initial application, which led to partial funding of Ksh90,301.80 for tuition only.
After being advised to update her sponsorship status on the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Student Portal, the student corrected the information. This enabled HELB to reassess and release an additional Ksh55,200 for upkeep.
The funding window remains open for first-time HELB applicants for the 2026/2027 academic year, including undergraduate and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students. Applicants are urged to ensure their details are accurate to avoid delays and to use the HEF portal to appeal any discrepancies with supporting evidence.
