The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has clarified that students do not need to reapply for second-semester funding for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The clarification, reported by Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, 2 November 2026, addresses concerns among university students who feared they needed fresh applications to access their loans for the upcoming semester.

HELB explained that applications are submitted once per academic year, so students who already applied do not need to repeat the process.

"Semester 2 HELB funds will only be disbursed once the semester begins, around January. You do not need to make another application. HELB application is done once per academic year," HELB stated.

Students awaiting their next allocation will therefore have to wait until the second semester begins, rather than expect an immediate release.

HELB urged beneficiaries to ensure their account details remain accurate and updated to avoid complications during disbursement, and encouraged students to monitor their loan accounts and official HELB communication channels for updates on subsequent payment batches.

The funding clarification comes after the lecturers' strike disrupted university learning schedules, forcing students to contend with an extended academic calendar. The industrial action left many students facing additional expenses, including rent, food and transport costs, as universities adjusted their academic programmes.

HELB's first-semester disbursements have continued, with the board releasing funds to beneficiaries through successive batches since August 2026. First-year students were scheduled to receive their initial allocations from 15 August, while further releases continued into late October as processing progressed.

Sources: Kenyans.co.ke, 2 November 2026; HELB statement, 2 November 2026.