Scholarships, Bursaries and Student Loans in Kenya
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Feb 11, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, African Scholarships & Student Funding
Most Kenyan university students fund their studies through a mix of a HELB loan, a government scholarship band, and money from home; county governments and NG-CDF offices add bursaries on top for needy students. Apply for HELB the moment your admission is confirmed, and apply for county or CDF bursaries separately, since they run on their own local deadlines.
💵 HELB loans and scholarships flow through 5 income-based funding bands
💵 Band 1 (poorest families): 70% government scholarship, 25% HELB loan, 5% household contribution
📩 County and NG-CDF bursaries sit separate from HELB; apply through your local office
🎓 Postgraduate researchers can apply to the National Research Fund for grants up to KSh 2,000,000 (PhD)
⏱️ Apply for HELB immediately after admission is confirmed, not after classes start
HELB: government scholarship plus loan, in one application
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) runs Kenya's main university funding scheme, the New Funding Model, built on a household means-testing tool. Instead of a flat loan for everyone, HELB places each applicant into one of 5 income bands, and each band mixes a non-repayable government scholarship, a repayable HELB loan, and a household contribution.
| Band | Monthly household income | Govt scholarship | HELB loan | Annual upkeep loan (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to KSh 5,995 | 70% | 25% | 60,000 |
| 2 | Up to KSh 23,670 | 60% | 30% | 55,000 |
| 3 | Up to KSh 70,000 | 50% | 30% | 50,000 |
| 4 | Up to KSh 120,000 | 40% | 30% | 45,000 |
| 5 | Above KSh 120,000 | 30% | 30% | 40,000 |
The household covers the rest of tuition directly: 5% in Band 1, rising as household income rises, up to 40% in Band 5, per reporting on the funding model and HELB's band breakdown . HELB loan disbursements rose 32.1 percent to about KSh 62.0 billion, reaching 716,417 students, while bursary disbursements shrank over the same period, per Daily Nation reporting .
How to apply
Apply through the HELB portal once a KUCCPS placement letter or a confirmed university admission letter is in hand. You need your national ID (or birth certificate if under 18), admission letter, and details for a guarantor, usually a parent or local chief. Means testing runs through a mobile-based tool that scores household circumstances against a standard set of questions and assigns a band, which then sets the scholarship, loan, and upkeep amounts. Apply as early as possible once admission is confirmed, since disbursement to the university happens per semester and delays leave you short on registration day.
County and NG-CDF bursaries
Separately from HELB, most county governments run a bursary fund for university and college students from that county, and many National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) offices run their own bursary allocation for students in that constituency. These bursaries are smaller than a HELB loan and vary widely by county and by year. Apply directly at the county bursary office or the local NG-CDF office with proof of admission, fee balance, and often a letter from local administration confirming family circumstances. Deadlines are set locally, so check with the county or constituency office each academic year rather than assuming a fixed national date.
University bursaries and need-based aid
Many public and private universities also run their own small bursary or fee-waiver funds for continuing students who fall into financial difficulty mid-course, usually administered through the dean of students' office. These rarely cover a full fee balance but bridge a gap HELB and county bursaries do not close. Ask the dean of students' office directly, since these funds are not always advertised widely.
Postgraduate funding: the National Research Fund
For a master's or PhD by research, the government-backed National Research Fund (NRF) runs an annual Postgraduate Research Grants call open to Kenyan students registered full-time at a recognised public or private university. A funded master's proposal receives up to KSh 500,000 for one year, and a funded PhD proposal up to KSh 2,000,000 over up to three years. The grant covers direct research costs such as equipment, consumables, and fieldwork, not tuition, so pair it with a tuition-focused source like HELB or a university scholarship.
Putting it together
Apply for HELB the moment an admission letter arrives, regardless of what other funding is expected.
Apply for a county and/or NG-CDF bursary every year, since these are not automatic and do not roll over.
Ask the dean of students about institution-specific emergency bursaries for a mid-course shortfall.
Postgraduate researchers should track the NRF application timeline separately from tuition funding.