HELB Opens Loan Applications for KMTC Certificate, Diploma Students: Full Application Guide for 2026/2027.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has formally opened the loan application window for Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students enrolled in Certificate and Diploma programmes for the 2026/2027 academic period.
The application window opened on Friday, August 21, 2026, and will remain accessible to eligible applicants until Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
In a public statement issued on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, KMTC confirmed the opening of the window and directed eligible students to submit their applications ahead of the deadline.
The institution stated that the HELB 2026/2027 KMTC Loan Application is open for students pursuing Certificate and Diploma courses, with the application window running from August 21 to September 30, 2026.
Background of the KMTC Financing Scheme
The opening of the 2026/2027 window follows a broader government directive to integrate KMTC learners into the Higher Education Financing (HEF) framework administered by HELB.
President William Ruto had earlier directed that Certificate and Diploma students at KMTC be brought into the national higher education financing structure, a move that extends government-backed loan access to a category of trainees that had previously relied primarily on a revolving fund arrangement managed internally by the college.
Prior to this integration, KMTC students pursuing medical and health-related courses did not have the same structured access to government loans and scholarships that university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students have historically accessed through HELB.
The KMTC Students Financing Scheme, established through a partnership between KMTC and HELB, was designed specifically to extend tuition-related financial support to Certificate and Diploma trainees at the institution.
Officials associated with the programme have indicated that the inclusion of KMTC learners in the Higher Education Financing programme is intended to place medical trainees on comparable financial footing with their counterparts in universities and other tertiary institutions, and to reduce dropout rates linked to limited access to structured funding.
Application Timeline
The application period for the 2026/2027 KMTC Certificate and Diploma loan cycle is structured as follows:
- Application window opening date: Friday, August 21, 2026
- Application window closing date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- Announcing institution: Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)
- Administering body: Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
- Applicable courses: Certificate and Diploma programmes at KMTC
- Application platform: Higher Education Financing Portal (www.hef.co.ke) for first-time applicants; HELB mobile application or USSD code *642# for continuing applicants
KMTC urged eligible students to complete their applications well ahead of the September 30 deadline in order to avoid last-minute congestion on the application platform.
How to Apply: Full Step-by-Step Process
For First-Time Applicants
- Visit the Higher Education Financing Portal at www.hef.co.ke.
- Create an account using a national identification number, a valid and active email address, and a mobile phone number registered in the applicant’s own name.
- Activate the newly created account through the verification link sent to the registered email address.
- Log in to the portal and complete the applicant profile, including personal details, residential details, educational background, and parental or guardian information.
- Navigate to the loan application section and select the KMTC student financing scheme from the available loan categories.
- Read and accept the applicable terms and conditions governing the loan.
- Provide the required guarantor details as part of the application.
- Review all submitted information to confirm accuracy and completeness before final submission.
- Submit the completed application.
- Await confirmation of the application, which is delivered via a unique application number sent by SMS or email.
For Continuing (Subsequent Loan) Applicants
- Download the HELB mobile application from the Google Play Store, or ensure the existing installation is updated to the latest version.
- Alternatively, dial the USSD code *642# from a mobile phone registered in the applicant’s own name.
- Register using the applicant’s personal mobile number to generate a One-Time PIN (OTP) for login access.
- Log in using the generated OTP.
- Read and accept the applicable licence agreement.
- Select the “Loans” tab within the application or USSD menu and choose the Certificate/Diploma category.
- Select the KMTC subsequent loan option.
- Review the process tutorial and the financial literacy guide provided within the platform.
- Enter the applicant’s phone number and national identification number for verification purposes.
- Read and accept the loan terms and conditions.
- Complete the financial literacy questions embedded within the application process.
- Update personal, academic, and financial details as required.
- Submit the completed application and retain the confirmation reference provided.
Regulatory Context and Prior Advisories
HELB has previously issued public advisories cautioning applicants against fraudulent notices circulating outside its official communication channels regarding KMTC loan application dates.
The board has stated that all information regarding application timelines, eligibility, and procedures should be verified exclusively through HELB’s official channels, including its website, mobile application, and verified social media accounts.
The 2026/2027 HELB loan and scholarship cycle has been rolled out in stages across different categories of applicants.
KMTC first-time and subsequent loan applications, university and TVET first-time applications, and subsequent loan applications for returning university and TVET students have each been assigned distinct opening dates within the same financing cycle.
Read Also: Birth Certificate Name Changes: Huduma Kenya Explains the 2-Year Rule
Conclusion
The opening of the HELB 2026/2027 loan application window for KMTC Certificate and Diploma students marks the continued expansion of the Higher Education Financing programme to cover medical training institutions previously excluded from structured government loan access. Eligible students have been directed to complete their applications through the Higher Education Financing Portal or the HELB mobile application and USSD platform before the closing date of September 30, 2026.
HELB Opens Loan Applications for KMTC Certificate, Diploma Students: Full Application Guide for 2026/2027.
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