The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced an extension of the 100 per cent Covid-19 Penalty Waiver dubbed #KamilishaMalipoYaHELB on Wednesday.

The waiver was initially scheduled to run from March 1, 2022, to April 30, 2022, but has now been extended to June 30, 2022. 

“HELB wishes to announce an extension of the 100% Covid-19 Penalty Waiver dubbed #KamilishaMalipoYaHELB to 30th June 2022 to loanees as an appreciation of their commitment to repay their loans as well as encourage the loanees who haven’t started repaying to do so and repay in lump-sum,” HELB said.

The HELB CEO CPA Charles Ringera said the board acknowledges the challenges the loanees face that have affected the HELB loan repayment as well as inadequate funding from the National Treasury.

“Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Kenya just like many other countries globally has experienced a slowing down of the economy over the last 2 years. We acknowledge that unemployment and underemployment as well as a challenging environment for loanees to start and run businesses, has affected HELB loan repayment. This, coupled with inadequate funding from the Exchequer [The National Treasury], has inadvertently created a funding challenge for students seeking HELB Loans,” Ringera said.

Read More

  1. 965,000 KSCE candidates to receive new Maisha Cards by year-end, Govt says
  2. 'Invested in Your Story': Absa launches campaign to boost client engagement
  3. Ruto walks fiscal tightrope as he signs Supplementary Appropriations Bill into law


Besides the prevailing tough economic environment, the initial end of the Penalty Waiver, April 30, 2022, also coincided with the back-to-school season. 

HELB received many requests to extend the waiver to allow loan beneficiaries additional time to take advantage of the Penalty Waiver.

Ringera also thanked the loanees who have responded to HELB Covid-19 Penalty Waiver Campaign by repaying their loans in full and reminded all beneficiaries to honour their repayment obligations.

“We wish to sincerely thank the loanees who have since responded to our Covid-19 Penalty Waiver Campaign and have repaid their loans in full. We also take this opportunity to remind all beneficiaries to honour their repayment obligations as stipulated in the loan application terms & conditions to enable us to empower the dreams of the 75,000 students who are at risk of not being funded this year,” Ringera said.