NAIROBI, Kenya — The Hustler Fund is facing renewed scrutiny after MPs revealed that the programme has failed to address 21 audit queries for the 2022/2023 financial year, including missing beneficiary data and billions of shillings yet to reach intended recipients.
The National Assembly’s Special Funds Accounts Committee, chaired by Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Zainab, on Tuesday halted its proceedings after discovering that key documents requested more than a year ago had still not been submitted.
“What we have witnessed today is a mockery of this Committee,” Fatuma said, directing newly appointed CEO Henry Tanui to return within seven days with all outstanding records. “We will not accept excuses. Kenyans deserve clarity.”
Missing records and unanswered questions
Legislators demanded explanations for missing lists of beneficiaries, unclear loan disbursements, and unexplained funds that remain outside circulation more than two years after the programme launched.
Committee members warned that failure to provide records undermines accountability in a fund financed by taxpayers.
Some MPs suggested the absence of documentation could mask deeper issues, including irregular disbursement or possible fraud.
Committee Vice Chairperson Rahim Dawood expressed concern that some loans may have been issued to fictitious accounts, adding that the Committee had sought the same documents for nearly a year.
“The PS is hiding behind your office,” he told Tanui.
‘No money has been lost’ — CEO
Tanui insisted that the Fund is not facing financial loss, saying it received Sh14 billion from the Exchequer, of which Sh1.4 billion is currently in circulation.
He acknowledged that many loans remain unrecovered but said all are linked to national ID numbers, with full records to be submitted.
However, MPs countered that unrecovered loans amount to lost public funds unless backed by verifiable recovery efforts and complete documentation.
Tanui said a recovery strategy is underway, but Committee members questioned why the beneficiary records and status reports had not been shared earlier.
Possible special audit
Citing unresolved concerns, lawmakers signalled they may call for a special audit into the Fund’s operations to determine whether the remaining public funds are intact and whether due process was followed in disbursements.
“This is the last chance,” Fatuma said. “We must account to the people. We need proper details of who got what money and what has happened since.”
The Committee will reconvene once the Fund submits the required documents, as it seeks to establish a full picture of how the Hustler Fund managed billions of taxpayers’ shillings.
