The Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) has released the first batch of beneficiaries for the 2026/27 academic year, as the government expands financial support.
The board allocated a total of Sh535.7 billion in loans and grants to 165,775 students, covering undergraduate and diploma students, including beneficiaries of the Samia Scholarship programme – both first-year entrants and continuing students.
HESLB executive director, Dr Bill Kiwia, said in a media briefing on October 10, 2026 that the first allocation was part of the Sh1.06 trillion set aside by the government for higher education loans and grants in the current academic year, targeting a total of 292,463 students. The first batch accounts for approximately half of the planned annual budget, with the board continuing to process applications from other eligible students.
The government has increased the budget for higher education loans and grants from Sh916.7 billion in the 2025/26 academic year, when 252,773 students benefited, to Sh1.06 trillion in 2026/27, Dr Kiwia said.
The increase in funding comes alongside plans to expand the number of beneficiaries to nearly 300,000, giving more students an opportunity to pursue higher education despite financial constraints.
Of the students allocated funding in the first batch, 74,769 first-year undergraduate students have received loans worth Sh246.88 billion, while 8,538 first-year diploma students have been allocated Sh22.9 billion.
A further 873 first-year students under the Samia Scholarship programme have received grants amounting to Sh4.5 billion.
Among continuing students, 79,115 undergraduate students have been allocated loans worth Sh252.4 billion, while 1,554 diploma students will receive Sh3.8 billion.
Another 926 continuing students under the Samia Scholarship programme have been allocated grants worth Sh5.1 billion.
‘The figures reflect the different categories of support available to students pursuing higher education, with loans covering eligible study-related costs and scholarships providing grants to selected beneficiaries,’ he said.
The government plans to support 292,463 students during the 2026/27 academic year, up from the 252,773 who benefited in the previous academic year.
Under the undergraduate loan scheme, the target includes 111,342 first-year students. The government also plans to support 24,978 diploma students, including 14,000 new entrants.
The Samia Scholarship programme is expected to benefit 2,738 undergraduate students, including 1,000 first-year entrants.
In addition, 513 students pursuing the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice are expected to benefit from the programme, including 350 new students.
Loans and grants help cover essential expenses, including fees, accommodation, meals, books and other costs associated with studying at universities and other higher learning institutions.
Dr Kiwia urged applicants who have not received allocations in the first batch to continue checking their application status through HESLB’s Student’s Individual Permanent Account (SIPA) online system.
He said the board was continuing to review and allocate funding to other applicants, meaning that the first announcement did not necessarily represent the conclusion of the allocation process.
‘Applicants are therefore advised to monitor their accounts for updates on the status of their applications and any further announcements from the board,’ Dr Kiwia noted.