President William Ruto’s claim of repaying his Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan has sparked controversy online after a document purportedly proving the repayment was shared by his close aide, Dennis Itumbi. The dispute centres around the authenticity of the document and the broader implications for public trust.

During a Town Hall meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on August 25, 2025, President Ruto recounted his experience with HELB.

“I went to university in 1987 as a fresher, and I had a loan just like you do. My loan was Sh55,000 with an interest of 2%. The statistics are there with HELB. I paid my loan of Sh69,000 with my first salary job as a Member of Parliament,” Ruto stated.

In support of the president’s statement, Dennis Itumbi, newly appointed head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the President’s Executive Office, posted a document on X (formerly Twitter). The document, which bears the HELB logo, indicated that Ruto began repaying his loan in July 2001 and completed payments in December 2015.

Itumbi’s post aimed to provide transparency and counter skepticism. “Here’s the proof. Let’s focus on facts,” he wrote, urging media outlets to report accurately.

However, the document quickly drew criticism from netizens. Many questioned its legitimacy, citing inconsistencies and discrepancies in the document’s details. Social media users accused Itumbi of attempting to manipulate public perception with dubious evidence.

The controversy comes amid significant changes in Kenya’s higher education funding. The Ministry of Education has introduced a new scholarship model that supports a broader range of students, including those in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes. This model includes a mix of scholarships and loans based on financial need. Vulnerable students receive 82% of their funding as a scholarship and 18% as a loan, with financial assessments done annually through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.

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As debate continues over the authenticity of Ruto’s repayment proof, the new funding model highlights ongoing efforts to improve educational access and support for Kenyan students.