The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is turning up the heat on thousands of Kenyans who have defaulted on their student loans, revealing plans to team up with police to trace and apprehend defaulters.

HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari made the announcement on Friday, May 31 while addressing the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education. Monari said the board is finalising a partnership with law enforcement to locate graduates — both in Kenya and abroad — who have failed to begin repayment despite being gainfully employed.

“This is not just about finance,” Monari told the committee. “It’s about fostering a sense of responsibility and patriotism among those who have benefited from the funds. Compliance ensures we can support future generations from needy backgrounds.”

The move comes as HELB grapples with ballooning default rates that threaten the sustainability of its revolving fund. Monari warned that the fund, meant to help new students access higher education, is facing serious strain.

“At the heart of HELB’s operations is the philosophy of the revolving fund — recovering loans to re-lend to aspiring students,” he said. “However, the defaulter rates continue to erode the fund’s sustainability.”

The new crackdown follows HELB’s earlier attempts to encourage voluntary compliance, including issuing warning notices and offering an 80 per cent penalty waiver for lump sum repayments. The latest waiver, issued on March 24, urged Kenyans to “settle your HELB Loan in a lump sum and enjoy an 80 per cent waiver on accrued penalties.”

Despite such efforts, the response has been underwhelming. The board is now seeking a more forceful approach after many defaulters failed to come forward.

However, some borrowers have pushed back, citing unemployment as the biggest hurdle to repayment. Many are calling for HELB to extend the grace period to allow them time to secure stable income.

During the heated committee session, Members of Parliament urged HELB to do more than enforcement. They challenged the board to strengthen public awareness through community outreach, inspirational testimonials from past beneficiaries, and seek alternative funding sources beyond government allocations.

As the Board prepares to implement this unprecedented partnership with police, the message is clear — defaulting on a HELB loan may no longer be just a financial issue but could soon carry legal consequences.

Graduates wishing to avoid police intervention are encouraged to begin repayment immediately by dialing *642# or visiting the HELB online portal.