Apply for a HELB Jielimishe loan (for employed students)
Higher Education Loans Board · sources read 3 Oct 2026
If you're in formal employment and admitted to a recognised university or college, apply for the Jielimishe loan on the HELB portal and email a soft copy to jielimishe@helb.co.ke. HELB pays the loan straight to your institution each year.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Online on the HELB student portal (portal.hef.co.ke), plus a soft copy emailed to jielimishe@helb.co.ke
What you need
- Admission letter from a recognised university or college
- Copy of your last academic certificate, certified by a commissioner of oaths
- Your latest 3 months' payslips, certified by your employer
- If you're on contract: a copy of your appointment letter for at least two years, certified by your employer
- Copy of your national ID, certified by a commissioner of oaths
- Certified copies of the national IDs of two employed guarantors
- A recent colour passport-size photo
Steps
- Sign in to the HELB student portal (portal.hef.co.ke) and fill in the Jielimishe loan application.
- Email a soft copy of your application and documents to jielimishe@helb.co.ke.
- If approved, HELB pays the loan straight to your university or college, once per year of study.
Watch out
- You repay through monthly deductions from your salary (check-off), so your employer will be involved.
- The amount you can get is limited by the government's one-third rule on your net salary.
Who can apply
- Employed students doing a professional course, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor's, Postgraduate Diploma, Master's or PhD in Kenya
- You must be in formal employment
- You must be admitted to a public or private university in Kenya or the East African Community that is recognised by the Commission for University Education (CUE)
Official sources (3)
- Jielimishe Loans helb.co.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- HELB Service Charter 2022 helb.co.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- HELB Student Portal portal.hef.co.ke · read 3 Oct 2026