The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has appointed Geoffrey Monari as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with his tenure set to commence on March 13, 2025. The appointment was confirmed by HELB Chairperson Ekwee Ethuro in a statement on Thursday.
Monari takes over from interim CEO Mary Wachira Muchie, who has been serving since the departure of Charles Ringera. Ringera had led HELB since March 2013, and his tenure concluded at the end of his term. The recruitment process for his successor saw applications submitted by December 17, 2024.
Monari’s appointment is expected to bring significant changes to the organization, with a key focus on institutional restructuring, fintech optimization, customer-focused leadership, human capital initiatives, and corporate governance. Ethuro expressed confidence in Monari’s leadership, citing his vast experience in higher education financing.
“The Board is confident that Monari’s vast experience, leadership acumen, and deep understanding of the higher education financing landscape will provide the vision and leadership necessary to propel HELB to new heights,” Ethuro stated.
Monari brings over 15 years of senior management experience in the higher education financing sector. Prior to this appointment, he served as the founding CEO of the Universities Fund since 2020. He also previously held the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO) at HELB from 2016 to 2020, during which he played a key role in student lending, strengthening debt management, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement.
His appointment comes at a critical time when university and college students have raised concerns over delayed loan disbursements. Speaking in Dagoreti South on Wednesday, President William Ruto acknowledged these challenges and assured students that they were being addressed. He mentioned that he had instructed the Head of Public Service to expedite solutions, even jokingly telling students to call him if they had not received their funds by Friday.
Monari holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He has also completed the Senior Management Leadership Programme and is currently pursuing the Global CEO Africa Programme at Strathmore Business School.
His leadership is expected to steer HELB towards improved efficiency and financial sustainability, ensuring students receive timely financial support for their education.
