The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has offered a significant 80 percent waiver on accrued penalties for student loan defaulters who pay their outstanding arrears in full. This relief aims to encourage repayment and sustain the board's funding for future students.

• HELB announced the 80 percent waiver on Tuesday, August 5, accessible via USSD code *642#, the HELB mobile app, or the HELB portal.
• Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that HELB will disburse loans for first-year students on Friday, August 15.
• The government will increase HELB's allocation from Ksh36 billion to Ksh41 billion, with Ksh13 billion for tuition and Ksh16.9 billion for scholarships.