The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released a guideline on how students who apply for funding using KCSE index numbers can insert national ID details on attaining 18 years.
Using the index number is especially helpful for thousands of new students who start university or polytechnic studies before attaining the age of majority.
The government usually releases data on learners who sit for national exams before the recommended age. During the regime of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination, learners who sat for the exam at 12 years joined university before hitting 18 years.
According to the government, learners should start school at four years, but some parents send them earlier than recommended.
Many students have been wondering how to replace their Index numbers with the new ID details.
However, the funding agency has now come up with a formula on how to navigate the change-over.
Using their existing Higher Education Fund (HEF) account, learners should follow these steps to insert the ID details:
- Log in to the HELB Portal using the account you created with your KCSE index number.
- Once logged in, a pop-up window will appear prompting you to update your ID details.
- Enter your National ID number and your first name exactly as they appear on your ID card, then click Validate.
- A confirmation message will appear indicating that your ID has been successfully updated.
- Click on the “Register” tab to complete the process.
This ensures that your records are synchronised without creating duplicate accounts.
Since its inception, HELB has supported more than 1.23 million students, disbursing more than Sh130.1 billion in loans to help Kenyans pursue higher education.
In the 2025/2026 national budget, HELB received an allocation of Sh41.5 billion, slightly more than the previous year, as part of the Sh702.7 billion education sector budget.
