The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has opened applications for its Jielimishe Loan programme for the 2026/2027 academic year, offering salaried Kenyans an opportunity to finance their higher education and professional development.
In a public notice issued on Thursday, August 6, the board announced that applications are now open for eligible employed learners seeking financial support to advance their studies.
“HELB 2026/27 Jielimishe Loan application for salaried learners is now open. Take the next step in your career with the Jielimishe Loan,” the notice stated.
Under the programme, eligible applicants can access financing of up to Sh600,000, with repayment periods ranging from 12 to 48 months.
HELB said the loans attract an annual interest rate of 10 percent and are processed within a short period to enable learners to commence or continue their studies without unnecessary delays.
The board highlighted the programme’s key features, including flexible repayment plans, competitive interest rates and expedited loan processing.
Interested applicants have been advised to submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing Portal.
The opening of the Jielimishe Loan applications comes barely a week after HELB invited applications for its 2026/2027 Partial Postgraduate Scholarship programme targeting Kenyan students pursuing master’s and doctoral studies.
In a notice issued on July 30, the board said the scholarships are available to eligible students enrolled in public and private universities accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
According to HELB, successful master’s students will receive scholarships worth Sh200,000, tenable for two years, while successful PhD applicants will be awarded Sh450,000, tenable for three years.
To qualify, applicants must be Kenyan citizens enrolled in master’s or PhD programmes at CUE-recognised universities.
They are also required to have attained at least a Second Class Upper Division in their undergraduate studies and possess a valid admission letter for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) or agriculture-related programme.
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