NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the Financial Inclusion Fund, popularly known as the Hustler Fund, following what he described as significant progress in increasing access to affordable credit and promoting a savings culture among Kenyans.
Speaking on Wednesday after receiving a progress update on the programme, the President said the fund has emerged as a critical tool for financial inclusion by providing low-cost credit through a fully digital platform while encouraging responsible borrowing and savings.
According to Ruto, the Hustler Fund has disbursed more than Sh90 billion to 28 million borrowers through its three flagship products: the Personal Loan, Bridge Loan and Hustler Groups.
The President noted that the programme continues to issue about Sh50 million in loans daily, underscoring sustained demand for government-backed affordable credit.
“We will continue resourcing the fund so that Kenyans can continue accessing the most affordable credit in the country,” Ruto said after receiving a briefing on the programme’s performance.
Ruto also highlighted improved borrowing discipline among beneficiaries, revealing that 10 million customers have become repeat borrowers, while 4.5 million have attained A and B credit scores due to consistent borrowing and timely loan repayments.
He said the strong repayment record reflects the fund’s success in helping borrowers build positive credit histories, a key objective of the initiative.
Beyond credit access, the President said the programme has strengthened a culture of saving among Kenyans, with borrowers collectively saving Sh7 billion since the fund’s launch.
He described the milestone as evidence that the fund is fulfilling its broader mandate of mobilising national savings while supporting financial resilience.
Ruto further praised the digital infrastructure behind the programme, saying all services are delivered through a fully digitised platform, demonstrating the government’s push to modernise public service delivery.
“I am very proud that these milestones have been achieved purely on a digital platform and the processes have all been digitised,” he said.
Launched by the Kenya Kwanza administration, the Hustler Fund was designed to improve access to affordable credit for individuals and small businesses that have traditionally struggled to secure financing from conventional lenders.
The programme aims to promote financial inclusion, support entrepreneurship and reduce reliance on expensive informal lending, with the government maintaining that continued investment in the fund will help more Kenyans improve their financial wellbeing while contributing to economic growth.
