1.0 OVERVIEW

1.1 This website is operated by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). Throughout the site, the terms “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to the Higher Education Loans Board. HELB provides this website, including all information, portals, and services available from this site to you, the user, conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies, and notices stated here.

1.2 By visiting our site and/or applying for our services, including loans, bursaries, scholarships, or grants, you engage in our “Service” and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions (“Terms of Service”, “Terms”), including those additional terms and conditions and policies referenced herein and/or available by hyperlink. These Terms of Service apply to all users of the site, including without limitation users who are students, past beneficiaries, employers, institutions of higher learning, and other stakeholders.

1.3 Please read these Terms of Service carefully before accessing or using our website. By accessing or using any part of the site, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the website or use any services.

1.4 Any new features, content or portals that are added to the current site shall also be subject to the Terms of Service. We reserve the right to update, change, or replace any part of these Terms of Service by posting updates and/or changes to our website. It is your responsibility to check this page periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to the website following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

1.5 You agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit any portion of the Service, use of the Service, or access to the Service or any contact on the website through which the Service is provided, without express written permission from HELB.

1.6 HELB reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue the Service (or any part or content thereof) without notice at any time.

1.7 We shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance of the Service, provided such action does not violate existing statutory obligations under the HELB Act or other Kenyan laws.

1.8 Third-party links on this site may direct you to third-party websites that are not affiliated with HELB. We are not responsible for examining or evaluating the content or accuracy, and we do not warrant and will not have any liability or responsibility for any third-party materials or websites or for any other materials, products, or services of third parties.

2.0 PERSONAL INFORMATION AND DATA PROTECTION

2.1 Your submission of personal information through the website is governed by our Privacy Policy and is in compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019.

2.2  By using our website and services, you consent to the collection, processing, storage, and sharing of your personal information as outlined in the Privacy Policy and required under applicable laws, including the HELB Act.

2.3  HELB commits to safeguarding your personal data and only using it for purposes directly related to higher education financing, loan recovery, compliance monitoring, and reporting to authorized government agencies.

3.0 PROHIBITED USES

3.1 In addition to other prohibitions set forth in the Terms of Service, you are prohibited from using the site or its content:

a)     For any unlawful purpose;

b)     To solicit others to perform or participate in any unlawful acts;

c)      To violate any international or local regulations, laws, or ordinances;

d)     To infringe upon or violate our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of others;

e)     To submit false or misleading information during loan application or repayment;

f)       To upload or transmit viruses or any other type of malicious code;

g)     To collect or track the personal information of others without consent;

h)     To spam, phish, pharm, pretext, spider, crawl, or scrape;

i)       To interfere with or circumvent the security features of the Service or any related website.

4.0 SPECIFIC TERMS FOR USERS

4.1For Students (Applicants)

a)     Must be a Kenyan citizen enrolled in a recognized institution of higher learning accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) or TVETA.

b)     Provide accurate and complete personal, academic, and financial details.

c)      Applications must be submitted through the official HELB/ HEF portal or approved channels only.

d)     HELB does not charge any application fees.

4.2 Loan Disbursement:

a)     Tuition fees are remitted directly to the institution, while upkeep is credited to the student’s bank account or mobile money account.

b)     Students are responsible for providing accurate bank or Mobile money details registered under their National ID.

4.3 Repayment:

a)     Loan repayment begins either immediately or within 12 months after the completion of studies, depending on the specific loan product and the terms outlined in the loan agreement.

b)     Interest and penalties apply for late payment, as per HELB guidelines.

4.4 For Past Beneficiaries

a)     Obliged to update HELB on employment status

b)     Must make monthly repayments as scheduled or arrange alternative payment plans in cases of financial hardship.

c)      Default may result in:

       i.            Penalties

      ii.            Legal enforcement

       iii.            Listing with Credit Reference Bureaus (CRB)

4.5 For Institutions of Higher Learning

a)     Must confirm student enrolment before disbursement.

b)     Must notify HELB of any changes in student status (deferment, discontinuation, or graduation, etc).

4.6 For Employers

Legally required under the HELB Act to:

a)     Deduct loan repayments from employees’ salaries.

b)     Remit deductions promptly to HELB.

c)      Provide details of employed loanees when requested.

d)     Non-compliance attracts penalties under the HELB Act.

5.0 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

a)     HELB does not guarantee uninterrupted, timely, or error-free access to the Service.

b)     The Service is provided “as is” and “as available” without any express or implied warranties.

c)      HELB, its officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses arising from the use of this Service except as required by law.

6.0 TERMINATION

6.1 These Terms of Service remain in effect unless terminated by you or HELB. HELB may suspend or terminate access to services for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or as required by law.

7.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

7.1 These Terms, together with the HELB Act, applicable regulations, and our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and HELB.

8.0 GOVERNING LAW

8.1 These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Kenya.

9.0 CHANGES TO TERMS

9.1 We reserve the right to modify these Terms by updating this page. Your continued use constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

10.0 CONTACT INFORMATION

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

• Email: ContactCentre@helb.co.ke
• Phone: +254 711 052000
• Website: www.helb.co.ke