Strathmore fees 2026: paybill, M-PESA, HELB, portal
Strathmore University runs a fully independent paybill (168633), unlike the public universities. The student admission number is your account reference. Strathmore is the highest-fee university in Kenya for most undergraduate programs. The 328000 this page carried until 14 September 2026 returns CENTRE PHONES LTD in the Safaricom app, not the university.
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M-PESA paybill
Paybill
168 633
How to pay Strathmore fees via M-PESA
- 1
Find your Strathmore registration number
Your registration number is on your admission letter or in the SUSI (Strathmore University Student Information) portal. Format: Your Strathmore student admission number (format: 12345678).
- 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: 168633
168633 is the dedicated Strathmore fees paybill. The M-PESA recipient name should read STRATHMORE or close variant.
- 4
Enter account number, amount, PIN, Confirm
Account number: Your Strathmore student admission number (format: 12345678).
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 3,000 (undergraduate) or KES 5,000 (postgraduate). Paybill: 168633. Application fees go to the same paybill 168633 with the application reference number from the admissions portal.
HELB and Strathmore
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) pays the awarded tuition portion directly to Strathmore, 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 SUSI (Strathmore University Student Information) 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
Strathmore is primarily a non-residential campus. Limited on-campus housing for postgraduate students is billed separately through the housing office.
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 Strathmore payments will read STRATHMORE 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 Strathmore paybill in 2026?
The Strathmore paybill is 168633. Account number: Your Strathmore student admission number (format: 12345678). The M-PESA SMS recipient name should read STRATHMORE or close variant.
How do I pay Strathmore fees via M-PESA?
Lipa na M-PESA, Pay Bill, paybill 168633, account = your Strathmore registration number, amount, PIN, Confirm. Reflects on the SUSI (Strathmore University Student Information) portal within 5 to 30 minutes.
My Strathmore 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 Strathmore finance office; they can manually post a held payment. Keep the transaction code for 90 days minimum.
Does HELB pay Strathmore fees directly?
Yes for the awarded tuition portion. HELB disburses directly to Strathmore 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 Strathmore application fee?
KES 3,000 (undergraduate) or KES 5,000 (postgraduate). Application fees go to the same paybill 168633 with the application reference number from the admissions portal.
Can I pay Strathmore fees from M-PESA Global if I am in the diaspora?
Yes. Paybill 168633 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 Strathmore?
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 Strathmore finance office with the M-PESA transaction code; they reconcile manually.
Last verified: June 2026. Paybill 168633 confirmed against Strathmore 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.