Loan defaults Kenya Stories

Delayed government payments fueling bank loan defaults in Kenya, Fitch warns
Lucy Mumbi  |  Nov 17, 2025

According to the agency, the banking industry’s impaired loan ratio, which stood at 17.6 per cent in June, is unlikely to ease until public-sector arr...

HELB loan defaults hit Sh42 billion as number of defaulters surges by 40 per cent
Lucy Mumbi  |  Nov 10, 2025

Elite professionals, including lawyers, doctors, engineers and accountants, top the list of those who have not honoured their repayment obligations.

Azziad Nasenya moves to court to stop auction of Sh20 million Kileleshwa apartment
Carolyne Kubwa  |  Nov 06, 2025

In her suit, Azziad accuses a savings and credit cooperative society (Sacco) of unlawfully attempting to auction her home despite her having cleared a...

HELB: Former students owe Sh32 billion in unpaid loans, 64,000 blacklisted
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 27, 2025

Currently, at least 708,000 students are enrolled in Kenyan universities, and over 100,000 graduated this year.

HELB loans awarded to 136,000 first-time university students as government caps fees
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Aug 15, 2025

Semester fees for students will now range from a minimum contribution of Sh5,814 to a maximum of Sh75,000, depending on the student’s level of need an...

Loan defaults surged to 17 per cent in 2024 due to tough business climate - CBK
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 13, 2025

In the period under review, gross loans issued by banks decreased by 2.7 per cent to Sh4.07 trillion from Sh4.18 trillion in 2023.

HELB offers 80 per cent penalty waiver to loan defaulters in new recovery push
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Aug 06, 2025

The waiver applies only to those who pay their full arrears at once through the HELB portal, mobile app, or USSD code *642#.

HELB disbursements to begin August 15 after Sh5 billion funding boost
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 01, 2025

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the move is aimed at ensuring that all eligible students receive financial support and that no on...

HELB writes off Sh347 million after identifying over 2,600 deceased loan defaulters
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 15, 2025

The recovery follows a joint effort with Civil Registration Services, which enabled more efficient verification of death records.

HELB tightens portal rules, orders minor applicants to update national ID details
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 12, 2025

HELB said applicants who registered using their KCSE index number must now revise their account details by adding their national ID number and first n...

Accountants, doctors, lawyers and engineers biggest defaulters of HELB loans – CEO Geoffrey Monari
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jun 17, 2025

According to HELB CEO Geoffrey Monari, accountants top the list of non-payment, with only 11 per cent of the active ones repaying their loans. Out of...

Kenya’s loan defaults surge to Sh717.5bn as banks intensify recovery efforts amid financial strain
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 26, 2025

The CBK survey revealed that banks plan to ramp up loan recovery efforts in eight of the 11 economic sectors and maintain the current pace in the rema...

New law prohibits lenders from using threats on borowers during loan recovery
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jan 06, 2025

The new provisions aim to curb exploitative practices in the microfinance sector, offering enhanced safeguards for borrowers and guarantors.

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