HELB Disbursement Updates: Paid And Unpaid Batch Numbers and What Students Need to Know

Below are the latest updates and clarifications on HELB loan disbursements, addressing the most common concerns currently being raised by students across different institutions.

SEMESTER TWO BATCH NUMBERS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026

SEM 2 BATCH NUMBERS
06639- PAID
06644- PAID
06645- PAID
06646- PAID
06647- PAID
06648- PAID
06649- PAID
06650- PAID
06652- PAID
06653- PAID
06654- PAID
06667- PAID
06670- PAID
06672- PAID
06680- PAID
06681- PAID
06682- PAID
06684- PAID
06685- PAID
06686- PAID
06688- PAID
06670- PAID
06677- PAID
06683- NOT PAID
06686- PAID
06687- PAID
06689- NOT PAID
06701- PAID
06703- PAID
06705- PAID
06713- NOT PAID
06714- NOT PAID
06715- NOT PAID
06716- NOT PAID
06717- NOT PAID

06639- PAID
06644- PAID
06645- PAID
06646- PAID
06648- PAID
06649- PAID
06650- PAID
06652- PAID
06654- PAID

HELB Funding Strain Deepens as More Students Qualify for University

Funds accessibility after disbursement message

Receiving a message stating “You have received KES *for upkeep* does not mean the money is available immediately.

The amount may appear on your HELB portal but may not yet reflect in your bank account or mobile wallet. In most cases, it takes between 24 to 72 hours for the funds to be accessible. Weekends and public holidays are not counted.

For example, if you receive the message on Thursday afternoon, the funds may only reflect by Tuesday.

Students are advised to remain patient and keep checking their registered bank account or mobile wallet.

SurePay and M-Pesa withdrawals

Funds can only be withdrawn using the Safaricom line that was registered during the HELB application process. The SIM card must be registered under the student’s national ID.

Any mismatch in details often leads to reversal of funds. This happens frequently.

If you are unsure about your registered details or need to make changes, it is advisable to visit a Huduma Centre for assistance rather than guessing and risking a reversal.

Missing semester two column on the portal

Many students have reported that the semester two column is missing on their HELB portal and are worried that this may affect their disbursement.

This does not mean that you will not receive funds. HELB has been updating its system, and similar situations have occurred in the past. In some cases, funds were disbursed even when the portal display had not fully updated.

If you applied successfully and already received semester one funds, there is no cause for alarm. Students are encouraged to relax and wait, as some are already noticing changes reflecting on their portals.

Disparities in disbursement across institutions

There have been concerns about why students from some universities have already received funds while others are still waiting.

This largely depends on the institution. Each university submits its academic calendar to HELB. Institutions that resumed earlier or submitted their calendars earlier are often prioritised in the disbursement process.

Delays are therefore not always the student’s fault and may be linked to institutional timelines.

Current issues being reported

Several batches are still unpaid. Some students are listed in paid batches but have not accessed funds. Others have not been assigned batch numbers. There are also students who have not received semester one funds, alongside ongoing portal-related technical issues.

Final update

HELB disbursement is an ongoing process and delays, system updates, and staggered payments are common. As long as your application was successful, patience is important.

Students are encouraged to continue monitoring their portals and registered payment channels and to avoid panic or misinformation. Further updates will be shared as more information becomes available.