Relationship Between Unemployment in Kenya and Non Performing Loans at Higher Education Loans Board

Abstract

This study focused on the relationship between unemployment in Kenya and loans performance at HELB. A major problem of education revolving funds and students’ loan schemes worldwide is low rates of loan recovery, this has made it difficult for the funds to achieve self-sustainability with rising demand for students’ loans. In Kenya, 40% of students’ loans at HELB are in default. The research objective was to find relationship between NPLs at HELB. The study used a descriptive correlation research design. Secondary data was collected from Higher Education loans Board and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Researcher used multiple linear regression model for the study. The researcher concluded that unemployment has significant positive influence on NPLs. The study indicated Inflation rate has statistically insignificant negative correlation associated with NPL. The researcher further concluded that loan growth and GDP growth have a positive correlation with NPLs at HELB, however, the influence was not statistically significant. The study recommends that the government should make structural and policy changes to reduce the rate of unemployment in Kenya. This would in turn reduce NPLs at HELB and also reduce the need for government funding of the institution through capitation. The researcher further recommend that the management of HELB should evaluate other factors that might affect loan performance. In addition, the study recommends that HELB management should carefully study the growth rate of the economy when determining the amount of students’ loan disbursement.