The two products side by side
| Civil Servants Training Revolving Fund | Jielimishe | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Employees of the national and county governments, the National Police Service, the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission | Salaried students: civil service, public commissions, parastatals, public universities, selected private companies |
| Amount | KSh 30,000 to KSh 500,000 | Up to 90% of programme fees, maximum KSh 600,000 |
| Interest | 4% a year, plus KSh 1,000 ledger fee a year | 10% a year |
| Term | Up to 72 months | 12 to 48 months (72 months for public servants) |
| Repayment starts | One month after disbursement, by check-off | Immediately on disbursement, by check-off |
In money terms: borrowing KSh 300,000 from the Revolving Fund at 4% costs about KSh 12,000 in interest in the first year, plus the KSh 1,000 ledger fee. The same KSh 300,000 on Jielimishe at 10% costs about KSh 30,000 in first-year interest. Over a multi-year term the gap between the two products widens, so the cheaper rate matters more the longer you take to repay.
Civil Servants Training Revolving Fund
HELB describes it as a loan of between KSh 30,000 and KSh 500,000 at 4% a year, for Masters, PhD and short courses, repayable over up to 72 months. HELB names employees of the national and county governments, the National Police Service, the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission. To apply, HELB lists:
- An admission letter from a recognised institution.
- A recommendation letter from your employer.
- Three months of certified payslips.
- A recent passport-size photo.
- Copies of your national ID and KRA PIN, certified by a commissioner for oaths.
- Two guarantors who are civil servants, with their IDs certified the same way.
Because repayment is by check-off a month after disbursement, make sure your payslip can carry the deduction alongside any SACCO and bank loans before you sign. Ask your payroll office how much room your payslip has for another deduction.
Jielimishe
Jielimishe is for working students outside the strict civil-service definition as well: HELB names public commissions, parastatals, public universities and selected private companies. It lends up to 90% of programme fees to a maximum of KSh 600,000 at 10% a year, over 12 to 48 months (72 months for public servants), and repayment begins as soon as the money is disbursed. Because repayment is by check-off, your employer has to agree to make the deduction from your salary.
How and when to apply
Both products are applied for online at helb.co.ke. On 16 October 2026 we could not find a confirmed 2026 application window: HELB's own countdown page still referred to the 2025-2026 Jielimishe window. Before you collect documents, confirm the window on HELB's product page or with HELB's contact centre.
Not the same as the undergraduate loan
These products are separate from the undergraduate loan and scholarship that first-years apply for on the HEF portal. If you are a school leaver, see the HELB 2026/27 application guide.