The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) will begin disbursing loans for first-year university students on August 15, announced the Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba. This initiative, facilitated by the government, aims to ensure students can settle into their academic journeys without interruption.

• HELB and the Universities Fund will target to support 201,695 first-year university students, over 237,000 TVET trainees, and 257,523 continuing students in 2025.
• The government has increased HELB's annual funding by Sh5 billion, from Sh36 billion to Sh41 billion.
• Applications for loans and scholarships under the Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM) remain open until August 31.

The University of Nairobi has initiated a formal process to lower accommodation fees for its students, following weeks of protest and a petition to the Ministry of Education. This decision brings relief after students decried a significant increase in fees.

• On July 29, the University of Nairobi management met and adopted a report recommending changes to hostel accommodation rates.
• The recommendations are awaiting final approval from various university governance organs, with official communication expected on August 6.
• Students had previously protested an increase in accommodation fees from Ksh6,000 in 2021 to the current Ksh43,000, deeming it exorbitant.
• The issue gained attention after the UoN Students' Association submitted a petition to the Ministry of Education, leading to their promise of a dialogue.

The Kenyan government has announced that the first disbursement of HELB loans for first-year students will begin on August 15, coinciding with university openings. This follows a significant increase in the allocation for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), aiming to address previous funding shortfalls and ensure students can access higher education.

• The allocation for HELB will rise from Ksh36 billion to Ksh41 billion.
• Education CS Julius Ogamba confirmed the phased release of funds.
• Ksh13 billion is allocated for tuition, and Ksh16.9 billion for scholarships via the Universities Fund, benefiting an estimated 201,695 first-year university students and over 237,000 TVET trainees.