MKU fees 2026: paybill, M-PESA, HELB, portal
Mount Kenya University is the largest private university in East Africa by enrollment with campuses across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Fees route through paybill 270988 with the registration number as account. The 888777 this page carried until 14 September 2026 returns MILLI GARD LTD in the Safaricom app, not the university.
Quick action
M-PESA paybill
Paybill
270 988
How to pay MKU fees via M-PESA
- 1
Find your MKU registration number
Your registration number is on your admission letter or in the MKU Student Portal portal. Format: Your MKU registration number (format: ADMNo-CourseCode).
- 2
Open Lipa na M-PESA, Pay Bill
M-PESA app or *334# or *144#, choose Lipa na M-PESA, then Pay Bill.
- 3
Enter paybill: 270988
270988 is the dedicated MKU fees paybill. The M-PESA recipient name should read MKU or close variant.
- 4
Enter account number, amount, PIN, Confirm
Account number: Your MKU registration number (format: ADMNo-CourseCode).
Read the recipient name and amount before tapping send. A typo in the reference lands your payment in a holding account that takes manual finance-office intervention to clear.
- 5
Save the M-PESA SMS
The 10-character transaction code is your receipt and your fallback if the portal does not update. Keep it for 90 days minimum.
Application fee
Application fee: KES 1,500 to KES 3,000 depending on program. Paybill: 270988. Application fees use the same MKU paybill with the application reference.
HELB and MKU
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) pays the awarded tuition portion directly to MKU, on a disbursement schedule tied to the academic semester. You pay the difference between your fee invoice and the HELB award out of pocket. HELB does not cover accommodation, books, or personal expenses for most undergraduate awards.
Check your HELB award status at the start of each semester at helb.co.ke before paying out of pocket. The MKU Student Portal portal shows your invoice net of HELB once the disbursement lands; if your portal still shows the full invoice in week 2 of the semester, the HELB disbursement has not arrived yet.
Accommodation
MKU has hostels at Thika main and some satellite campuses. Hostel fees billed via the same paybill with a hostel reference.
When things break
- Payment not reflecting after 2 hours. Most common cause: wrong reference. Compare the M-PESA SMS account field against the portal-generated code. If they match, take the M-PESA transaction code to the finance office.
- M-PESA SMS shows the wrong recipient name. You paid a scam paybill. Reverse via *456# (or forward the M-PESA SMS to 456) within 7 days. The M-PESA SMS recipient name for legitimate MKU payments will read MKU or close variant.
- Lost the transaction code. Dial *334# > My Account > M-PESA Statement, or check the M-PESA app under Transactions. Statements cover 12 months by default; older payments need a Safaricom request.
- Portal says I owe more than I paid. Possible HELB disbursement not yet posted. Check HELB award status at helb.co.ke; if confirmed but not reflecting on the portal, raise with finance.
FAQ
What is the MKU paybill in 2026?
The MKU paybill is 270988. Account number: Your MKU registration number (format: ADMNo-CourseCode). The M-PESA SMS recipient name should read MKU or close variant.
How do I pay MKU fees via M-PESA?
Lipa na M-PESA, Pay Bill, paybill 270988, account = your MKU registration number, amount, PIN, Confirm. Reflects on the MKU Student Portal portal within 5 to 30 minutes.
My MKU fees payment has not reflected on the portal. What do I do?
Most reflections happen within 30 minutes. If it has been longer than 2 hours: (1) check the M-PESA SMS that the recipient name and amount are correct; (2) compare the account/reference you typed against the one shown in your portal, even a single wrong digit lands the payment in a holding account; (3) take the M-PESA transaction code plus your portal reference to the MKU finance office; they can manually post a held payment. Keep the transaction code for 90 days minimum.
Does HELB pay MKU fees directly?
Yes for the awarded tuition portion. HELB disburses directly to MKU on a schedule tied to the academic semester (typically within the first 4 to 6 weeks of the semester). You pay the difference between your fee invoice and the HELB award out of pocket. Check your HELB award status before each semester at helb.co.ke so you know the amount to pay yourself.
What is the MKU application fee?
KES 1,500 to KES 3,000 depending on program. Application fees use the same MKU paybill with the application reference.
Can I pay MKU fees from M-PESA Global if I am in the diaspora?
Yes. Paybill 270988 accepts M-PESA Global payments from supported countries (UK, USA, UAE, South Africa, etc.). FX at the Safaricom M-PESA Global rate. Many diaspora households also send to a Kenyan family member who pays locally; depending on the corridor, that can be cheaper.
What happens if I pay the wrong amount to MKU?
Overpayments credit your fee account and roll forward to the next semester. Underpayments leave a balance that must be cleared before exam registration. If you typed the wrong account/reference and the payment landed in a holding account, contact the MKU finance office with the M-PESA transaction code; they reconcile manually.
Last verified: June 2026. Paybill 270988 confirmed against Mount Kenya University official sources and the Safaricom M-PESA app. We refresh quarterly and within 48 hours of any paybill or portal change. How we verify. Report a change.