The Ministry of Education has announced that the application portal for scholarships and loans for students enrolled in universities and TVET institutions will be available as from Tuesday June 18, 2024.

According to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, applications under the Student-Centred Funding Model for the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) cohort was initially scheduled on Saturday June 15, before it was postponed.

“However, on June 14th, 2024, the Government declared Monday, June 17th, 2024 a public holiday to mark Eid Al-Adha. Consequently, in solidarity with our Muslim fraternity, the Ministry of Education decided to move the portal opening date from Saturday, June 15th, 2024 to Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 to allow Kenyans ample time to prepare and celebrate Eid Al-Adha,” stated CS Machogu.

In addition, Machogu assured Parents and students that there would be adequate time for all eligible students to apply for funding.

This is after the Education CS on July 31, 2023, launched the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal, which allows students to apply for scholarships, loans, and bursaries individually after receiving acceptance letters.

The funding model was established using a carefully chosen criteria, ensuring channeling of funds directly to individual students.

Eligible applicants are individuals selected by the Kenya Universities Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to pursue an undergraduate, diploma, craft certificate, or artisan degree at one of Kenya’s accredited public universities or TVET institutions.

The following is a step-by-step tutorial for applying;

After meeting the prerequisites, go to https://www.hef.co.ke/.

Enter a valid email address, a phone number registered in the applicant’s name, KCPE and KCSE index numbers and years of examination, a college/university admission letter, and a copy of the sponsorship letter for secondary school students.

Other documents necessary are the applicant’s parent/guardian’s registration numbers, ID numbers, death certificates (if both parents have died), passport photos, and birth certificates.

Additionally, loan applicants must supply the ID and phone numbers of two guarantors.

Users must first register/log in to the portal, then fill their profile, upload their papers, check the option to apply for a scholarship or loan, and then submit the application.

The applicant will thereafter receive a notification about the incentive within thirty days.