HELB Loan Repayment Calculator: How Long to Clear Your Loan and What to Pay

How it's worked out

Enter what you owe HELB now and what you can pay each month. Each month the calculator adds interest at 4% a year on the balance, takes off your payment, and adds the KSh 1,000 ledger fee once a year. It keeps going until the balance reaches zero, then shows how long that took and how much went to interest and fees.

The table on the right works the other way: it shows the monthly payment that clears the same balance in 2, 3, 5 or 10 years. It never shows less than HELB's KSh 1,500 minimum.

The figures come from HELB's own statements, reported in the press:

• Interest: 4% a year for undergraduate university, TVET and KMTC loans. HELB restated this in August 2026 after claims that the rate had gone up to 12% (Kenyans.co.ke, 7 August 2026). It's charged on the outstanding balance, and there's an annual ledger fee of KSh 1,000 (The Star, 26 May 2026).
• When repayment starts: one year after you finish your studies, whether you're employed, self-employed or running a hustle (K24, 26 August 2026).
• Minimum payment: KSh 1,500 a month if you're paying in instalments yourself rather than through a payroll deduction (K24, 27 August 2026).

Missed payments cost far more than interest. Penalties on undergraduate loans run up to KSh 5,000 a month, and defaulters can be listed with a credit reference bureau (The Star). In August 2026 HELB offered up to an 80% waiver on penalties for borrowers who clear their full balance (Kenyans.co.ke, 13 August 2026). This calculator doesn't add penalties, so if you're already in arrears, get your exact balance from the HELB app first.

Still applying? See how first-time HELB applications work through the HEF portal.

Frequently asked questions

How much interest does HELB charge?

4% a year for undergraduate university, TVET and KMTC loans, charged on the balance you still owe. There's also a KSh 1,000 ledger fee each year. On a KSh 250,000 balance paid at KSh 5,000 a month, interest and fees come to about KSh 29,500 over the life of the loan.

When do I start repaying HELB?

One year after you complete your studies. HELB says this applies whether you're employed or not, so the clock starts even if you're still job hunting.

What is the minimum monthly HELB repayment?

KSh 1,500 a month if you pay in instalments yourself. If you're employed, your employer deducts the repayment from your salary instead.

How long will it take to clear my HELB loan?

It depends on your balance and what you pay. KSh 250,000 at KSh 5,000 a month takes about four years and eight months. At the KSh 1,500 minimum, the same balance takes over 22 years, and interest and fees add about KSh 151,500, because most of each payment goes on interest at first.

What happens if I don't pay HELB?

Penalties of up to KSh 5,000 a month are added, and you can be listed with a credit reference bureau, which makes other loans harder to get. If you owe penalties, ask HELB about the waiver for clearing your full balance.