Civil servants who received their December salaries on Saturday were left shocked and distressed after the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) made unexpected deductions of up to Ksh5,000 from their pay slips.
Many affected employees said the deductions came without prior notice, disrupting personal financial plans already strained by the high cost of living.
Some workers reported that the deductions were higher than what they had been remitting monthly, raising questions about how the figures were arrived at.
Several civil servants took to social media to express their frustration, saying the deductions hit hardest at a time when they were preparing for end-month expenses, school fees, rent, and festive season obligations.
Others said they had long completed repaying their loans and did not understand why HELB was still deducting money.
According to affected workers, the deductions were reflected under HELB recovery, with amounts ranging between Ksh2,000 and Ksh5,000 depending on individual cases.
For some, the cut significantly reduced their net pay, leaving them struggling to meet basic needs.
HELB has in recent months intensified efforts to recover outstanding student loans, especially from salaried employees in the public and private sectors.
The agency has been working closely with employers to enforce loan repayment through check-off systems, citing the need to recycle funds for new students.
However, the manner in which the deductions were effected has drawn criticism from borrowers.
Civil servants argue that while loan repayment is important, there should be clear communication and predictable deductions to avoid financial distress.
Some workers are now calling on HELB to issue detailed statements explaining the deductions and to provide channels for resolving disputes, especially for those who believe they were overcharged.
As complaints continue to mount, unions representing public servants are expected to take up the matter, urging HELB and the government to adopt a more transparent and humane approach to loan recovery.
