Estimate the full HELB repayment plan
This model combines loan build-up during study, grace-period carry cost, monthly repayment, payoff date, and default pressure in one flow.
First 24 months after repayment begins
The schedule shows how much of each monthly payment goes to interest, penalty pressure, and principal reduction.
| Month | Payment | Interest | Penalty | Principal cleared | Balance |
|---|
One HELB job-to-be-done instead of two competing calculators
The old AfroTools HELB surface had the richer education-finance context, while the thinner repayment page had the sharper repayment framing. This canonical page keeps the stronger pieces from both: annual borrowing assumptions, repayment mode, salary-based monthly payment, payoff date, default exposure, and practical next steps in one product surface.
Borrow during study
Use annual HELB assumptions and study duration to estimate how much balance you carry into the repayment window. That is more useful than starting with a flat balance only, especially for students still planning their funding path.
Repay with the right mode
Employed and self-employed borrowers do not experience HELB the same way. The calculator makes that explicit so users can see whether a salary checkoff path or a direct-payment plan is enough to clear the balance.
Spot underpayment early
If a monthly payment barely covers interest or penalties, the debt stops feeling manageable even when the minimum looks small. The warning states here are meant to surface that risk before default becomes normal.
Common Kenya HELB questions
Use these answers as planning guidance, then confirm your live balance, status, and compliance requirements directly with HELB.
What monthly payment does the employed mode use?
The employed mode uses a salary-based estimate of 10% of gross monthly pay, with a minimum monthly payment floor. If you want to clear the loan faster, add a monthly top-up and watch how the payoff date moves.
How should I use the self-employed mode?
Self-employed borrowers pay HELB directly, so the key question is not salary deduction but repayment capacity. Enter the amount you can reliably pay each month and compare whether it clears the balance in a sensible timeframe.
Why does the payoff date change so much?
HELB balances can move quickly when the monthly payment is comfortably above the carrying cost, and very slowly when the payment is close to the interest burden. Small top-ups often have an outsized effect on the final clearance date.
What should I do if I am already behind?
Switch to the default mode to see how much more expensive the balance can become. Then treat the result as a warning to contact HELB, restore compliance, and avoid letting a low monthly payment become permanent arrears.