HELB to name and shame 85K defaulters who owe Ksh.50B

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has now given a 30-day deadline to Kenyan defaulters to repay their loans failure to which their names and photos will be published in the country’s dailies.

According to HELB, at least 85,000 Kenyans have failed to service a loan of Ksh.50 billion issued since 1975.

“HELB wishes to notify the general public and loan defaulters that the HELB student loan is a government debt which should be repaid as per the terms and conditions on which it was advanced,” read a notice from the State Corporation.

“However, some beneficiaries who are in default have not responded to previous communication addressed to them yet the funds received from loan repayment are used to support the current needy students therefore sustained default hinders funding of other deserving Kenyan youth.”

The State body further added that legal action may also be pursued against the defaulters at the expiry of the 30-day deadline in accordance with the HELB Act.

Defaulters have now been urged to get in touch with HELB via dru@helb.co.ke for particulars of their loan accounts and any other inquiry.

Loan status may also be confirmed via the loanee portal on the HELB website or via USSD Code *642# as well as on the HELB App.