HELB Loan Repayment: Portal, Statements and Monthly Deductions

When repayment starts

HELB repayment begins after your grace period ends, which runs from when you complete or leave your course. You do not need to wait for a formal demand letter. Log in to the HELB self-service portal as soon as you finish studying to confirm your loan balance and repayment start date, since interest and penalties can build up if you assume someone will remind you.

Setting up the self-service portal

Register on the HELB self-service portal using your national ID number and your loan account number, which you can find on your original award letter or by contacting HELB directly if you no longer have it. Once registered, the portal gives you access to your loan balance, repayment schedule and a full transaction history.

Getting a statement

You can request a statement of account at any time through the self-service portal without visiting a HELB office. This statement shows what you have paid, what you still owe, and any penalties applied to your account. Employers, banks and immigration offices sometimes ask for a recent HELB statement or clearance certificate, so download one whenever you need to prove your repayment status.

Employer check-off deductions

If you are formally employed, your employer deducts your HELB installment directly from your salary each month and remits it to HELB, similar to how statutory deductions work. Your payslip shows this as a separate line item. If you change jobs, your new employer needs your HELB loan account details to continue the deduction, so update your employment information on the portal whenever your job changes.

Paying if you are self-employed or based abroad

Borrowers who are self-employed, informally employed, or living outside Kenya do not have an employer to deduct on their behalf, so they pay directly. HELB accepts payments through the self-service portal, its mobile app, the USSD code *642#, and Paybill or bank channels. Set a personal monthly reminder if you use one of these manual channels, since missed manual payments are one of the most common paths into default for borrowers without payroll deductions.

Getting a clearance certificate

Once your loan balance reaches zero, apply for a HELB clearance certificate through the self-service portal. Many employers, especially in the public sector, and some licensing bodies require this certificate before confirming a job offer or processing certain applications, so apply for it as soon as your loan is fully paid rather than waiting until you need it urgently.