Geoffrey Monari named the new HELB CEO

Geoffrey Monari has been named the new Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Chief Executive Officer replacing Charles Ringera, who exited in December after completing his 10-year tenure.

Before his appointment, Monari was the CEO of the Universities Fund.

HELB chairman Ekwee Ethuro announced on Thursday that Monari will take over from Charles Ringera, whose 10-year tenure ended in December last year.

Mary Wachira Muchie has been serving as CEO in an interim capacity since then.

“The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Geoffrey Monari as the new Chief Executive Officer [CEO] effective 13th March 2025,” Ethuro said.

He said Monari brings on board over 15 years of experience in senior management across the higher education financing sector and brings with him requisite competencies to ensure the success of the Board.

Previously, Monari served as the HELB Chief Operations Officer from 2016 to 2020.

Ethuro said that, during the period, Monari oversaw the strategic delivery of vital transformative initiatives across the board from student lending, strengthening debt management fund and supporting HELB wide partnerships, resource mobilisation and key stakeholder consultations.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, a Master of Business Administration and a Senior Management Leadership Programme certificate.

Currently, he is undertaking the Global CEO Africa Programme at Strathmore Business School.

His appointment comes at a time university students are facing a crisis due to delays in getting loans leading them to demonstrate outside the Anniversary Towers.

While the crisis was caused by the court ruling that annulled the new funding model, the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding, HELB has since said it will revert to the old system pending a permanent solution.

During his tour of Nairobi, President William Ruto pledged that the money