HELB resumes disbursements to KMTC students after Treasury releases Sh500 million
According to KMTC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kelly Oluoch, the HELB portal is now open for applications and urged eligible students to apply before the deadline on June 24, 2025.
The Treasury has released Sh500 million to support financially struggling students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), which had halted disbursements following austerity measures that cut off funding in the 2023/2024 financial year.
The funds, captured in the April 2025 Supplementary Budget, will be disbursed immediately, offering relief to learners whose training had been jeopardised by the funding gap.
More To Read
- President Ruto vows to go after schools defying fee payment on eCitizen
- Accountants, doctors, lawyers and engineers biggest defaulters of HELB loans – CEO Geoffrey Monari
- Kenya boosts medical interns' support with Sh4.3bn allocation in 2025/26 health budget
- Over 71,000 HELB defaulters blacklisted as Sh35 billion debt threatens student loans
- HELB seeks powers to freeze bank accounts of 316,000 loan defaulters
- Duale scraps attachment fees for KMTC students at national referral hospitals
According to KMTC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kelly Oluoch, the HELB portal is now open for applications and urged eligible students to apply before the deadline on June 24, 2025.
“The HELB portal is now open, and students interested in applying for the financial support can do so starting today. The application window will remain open until June 24, 2025,” Dr Oluoch said.
He explained that the funding reinstatement followed sustained lobbying by KMTC and engagement with key government agencies.
“The absence of this crucial support placed a significant strain on our students, threatening their ability to continue with training. This compelled the College to intensify engagements with key institutions, including the Ministry of Health and the Parliamentary Committee on Health, to advocate for the reinstatement of the funding,” he said.
KMTC students were previously beneficiaries of HELB loans until the end of the 2023/2024 financial year, when government austerity efforts slashed public expenditure, affecting critical support to medical trainees.
The latest allocation is a product of coordinated efforts across the government. During the opening of the 8th Biennial KMTC Scientific Conference on June 4, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale assured students that the government would prioritise unlocking funds to support those in need.
To further cushion its learners, KMTC has also taken internal steps to mobilise resources.
“In recent months, the College has intensified efforts to mobilise financial support for needy students,” Dr Oluoch said.
The measures include the establishment of a dedicated student funding kitty and engagement with alumni to encourage financial contributions toward supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Top Stories Today
