💸 Education & Scholarships

HELB Loan and Clearance Certificate in Kenya, Step by Step (2026)

The pain: You are unsure how to apply for a HELB loan under the new funding model, what it costs, or how to get the clearance certificate employers and tenders demand.

The outcome: You apply correctly on the right portal, understand your loan terms, and obtain the compliance certificate needed for jobs and tenders.

Undergraduate loan terms are 4% interest per year plus a KSh 1,000 per year ledger fee, and the Non-Loanee Compliance Certificate is free.

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Plan around your loan terms and repayment so you stay up to date and keep your compliance certificate valid. Free.

KRA Tax Tools →

Sort your KRA PIN and tax standing, since HELB compliance and employer deductions go hand in hand with being tax-ready.

How funding now works

Government student support now runs through the Higher Education Funding (HEF) model (scholarship plus loan plus means testing). Details are still evolving, so verify current. Portals: helb.co.ke and hef.co.ke.

Applying for a loan

First-time applicants: register on the student portal, verify with your National ID or KCSE index number, and complete the application, covering profile, consent, family and financial data, two guarantors, bank or M-Pesa details, and copies of your ID and parents' IDs.
Subsequent applicants (Year 2+): apply the simpler way via *642# or the HELB Mobile App.
Undergraduate loan terms: 4% interest per year plus a KSh 1,000 per year ledger fee. Amounts are means-tested by band (verify current amounts). Separate TVET loans exist.

Compliance and clearance certificate (for jobs and tenders)

Apply on the HELB portal. The Non-Loanee Compliance Certificate is free. Loanees must be up to date on repayment to be issued one.
Repayment begins after a grace period once you finish studies. Employers must deduct and remit for employed loanees.
Default penalties are steep (historically around KSh 5,000 per month, verify current) and damage your CRB standing.

Ready to act? Use these free tools

Budget Planner →

Plan around your loan terms and repayment so you stay up to date and keep your compliance certificate valid. Free.

KRA Tax Tools →

Sort your KRA PIN and tax standing, since HELB compliance and employer deductions go hand in hand with being tax-ready.

Questions people ask

What are the HELB undergraduate loan terms?

4% interest per year plus a KSh 1,000 per year ledger fee. Amounts are means-tested by band, so verify current amounts, and note that separate TVET loans exist.

Is the HELB clearance certificate free?

The Non-Loanee Compliance Certificate is free. Loanees must be up to date on repayment to be issued one. You apply for it on the HELB portal.

What happens if I default?

Default penalties are steep, historically around KSh 5,000 per month (verify current), and they damage your CRB standing. Repayment begins after a grace period once you finish studies.

Keep it current: The HEF model, loan amounts and default penalties are still evolving. Confirm current terms and figures on helb.co.ke and hef.co.ke before you rely on them.

Official sources

🎓 Education & ScholarshipsScholarships abroadYou shortlist the right fully-funded award, meet the eligibility, and submit a strong application on the official portal, months before the deadline.✍🏽 Education & ScholarshipsWinning Statement of PurposeA focused, self-aware SOP with a specific goal, named modules and faculty, evidence of impact, and a concrete give-back plan.🌍 Education & ScholarshipsMaster's application abroadA well-timed application with the right entry class, evaluated transcripts, an early English test, tailored statements and proof-of-funds ready for the student visa.

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