Hustler Fund's Sh83 billion lending spree faces uncertain future amid budget cuts
The Hustler Fund has lent over Sh83 billion since its launch, with repayments totalling Sh71 billion by March 2026. Despite its financial activity, the government now seeks an additional Sh300 million to recover Sh12.5 billion in outstanding loans. Budget plans also show no further funding for the scheme after July 2026. The fund initially received Sh5 billion in the 2023/24 financial year, followed by Sh2 billion in 2024/25. By the 2025/26 period, allocations dropped to Sh300 million. Despite reduced funding, the programme continued operating through recovered loans and repayments.
Issues with loan disbursement have emerged over time. A total of 104,631 loans worth Sh116.5 million were issued without proper national ID verification. Additionally, 386,735 accounts linked to Safaricom SIM cards were closed before borrowers settled Sh377.5 million in outstanding debts. Budget documents now indicate no further allocations for the Financial Inclusion Fund from July 2026. The government, however, is pursuing Sh300 million to strengthen recovery efforts for unpaid loans.
The Hustler Fund’s future remains uncertain as budget cuts take effect. With Sh12.5 billion still uncollected, the government’s push for recovery funding highlights ongoing challenges. The programme’s reliance on repayments will determine its sustainability beyond mid-2026.
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