President William Ruto has announced that the Hustler Fund has disbursed a total of Sh90 billion to 28 million borrowers since its inception. The government-backed digital lending platform aims to provide affordable credit to Kenyans excluded from formal banking.
Ruto highlighted that the Fund operates through three loan products: Personal Loan, Bridge Loan, and Hustler Groups, currently lending approximately Sh50 million daily. The initiative has attracted 10 million repeat borrowers, with 4.5 million achieving top credit scores (A and B) due to responsible repayment.
"We will continue to resource this fund to ensure Kenyans access the most affordable credit in the country," said Ruto. He also noted that borrowers have collectively saved Sh7 billion, underscoring the Fund's role in mobilising national savings.
The Fund’s fully digital platform has streamlined access and repayment processes, a milestone Ruto expressed pride in achieving. Complementing the lending program, the Financial Inclusion Fund recently launched the Tukuze Hub in partnership with Strathmore University and the African Management Institute (AMI) to support borrowers with financial literacy, business development, and capacity building.
To improve loan recovery, the Fund introduced a new repayment method allowing borrowers to use Safaricom Bonga Points to clear outstanding loans. This initiative has already recovered Sh3 million within its first week, addressing a default rate of 15 percent, equivalent to Sh12.5 billion as of March 2026.
Hustler Fund CEO Henry Tanui emphasized the importance of convenient repayment options, while Safaricom clarified that the value of Bonga Points fluctuates based on redemption patterns.
Despite government support reducing from Sh20 billion at launch to Sh300 million in the last financial year, the Fund has repaid Sh71 billion of the Sh83 billion disbursed by March 2026. However, the Auditor General raised concerns over credit verification after identifying over 100,000 loans issued without valid national ID numbers.
The Kenya Kwanza administration continues to encourage timely loan repayments by linking good repayment behaviour to increased borrowing limits, aiming to make the Hustler Fund self-sustaining and deepen financial inclusion nationwide.
