Naivasha, 27th April 2023. The Higher Education Loans Board [HELB], in partnership with Safaricom, has today officially launched the HELB Mobile Wallet Payment Solution for students in Higher Education Institutions [Universities and TVET Colleges] to access and utilize their HELB upkeep loan. The launch took place during the 2023 HELB Universities Consultative Forum. The Mobile …
Naivasha, 27th April 2023. The Higher Education Loans Board [HELB], in partnership with Safaricom, has today officially launched the HELB Mobile Wallet Payment Solution for students in Higher Education Institutions [Universities and TVET Colleges] to access and utilize their HELB upkeep loan. The launch took place during the 2023 HELB Universities Consultative Forum.
The Mobile Wallet payment solution is now accessible through the Safaricom M-PESA Mini App and HELB USSD *642#. The solution empowers beneficiaries to apply for subsequent loans, access HELB upkeep funds, withdraw funds, view loan status, access loan statements and repay loans, all from feature phones, Android and iPhone app.
HELB continues to embrace the government’s digital transformation agenda by leveraging on ICT for seamless service delivery and digitization of its services. HELB CEO expects the solution to conveniently serve the annual target of over 420,000 students and growing. “In addition to bank account options, HELB continuously seeks to create convenience and give students other options for service access. With the launch of the mobile wallet payment solution, HELB aims at providing a simple digital customer journey for the management of student loan funds,” said FCPA, Charles M. Ringera, HELB CEO. Airtel and Telkom mobile payment solution options are currently underway.
The Higher Education institutions continuing students can receive notifications and access the utilization statement for financial planning; while the beneficiaries who have graduated can track their payments and generate loan statements. “We remain committed to playing our part in improving citizen service delivery and therefore strive to ensure that the borrowing customers, students, get a delightful experience. The loan beneficiaries will be expected to, in-turn, repay the loan after completion of their studies in order to create a revolving fund for future generations,” said Rt. Hon. Ekwee Ethuro, HELB Chairman.
HELB therefore, wishes to encourage students studying in universities and TVET colleges to embrace this initiative which provides them with an efficient solution for HELB Loan fund access and management.
FCPA Charles M. Ringera,
HELB CEO.
-ENDS-
Notes to the Editor
About Higher Education Loans Board
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is a state body established by an Act of Parliament – CAP 213A in 1995 mandated to provide loans, bursaries and scholarships to Kenyans pursuing higher education in recognized Kenyan Universities and Colleges and to recover the same after completion of studies to facilitate establishment of a revolving fund. The Board is therefore well aligned to Chapter 4, Section 43 (1) (f) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, that every person has the right to education.
