The High Court ruling in August 2022, on HELB, has exploded again after the judgment resurfaced online. An old legal win has turned into a heated national moment as graduates demand clarity, refunds, and accountability.

At the centre of the revived storm is the in duplum rule, which stops HELB from charging interest and penalties beyond the amount originally borrowed.

Many beneficiaries claim their modest loans ballooned into unmanageable debts immediately after graduation, and especially during periods of unemployment.

The resurfaced judgment pushed thousands to recheck their statements, with some claiming their balances still exceeded the legal cap.

The pressure forced HELB to release a statement, insisting it has been fully compliant since 2022 and urging borrowers to request reviews if they notice discrepancies.

Instead of calming the public, the statement raised more questions, including how many accounts have been corrected and whether any refunds have been issued.

Behind the online noise are real frustrations. Some graduates who borrowed as little as Ksh35,000 say their balances multiplied to more than triple the amount before the ruling took effect.

Others claim they faced CRB threats long before getting stable jobs. This renewed push has sparked calls for transparency and demands for HELB to publicly disclose how many accounts were recalculated.