Civil community pushes for abolishment of Hustler Fund
Article Title: The Hustler Fund Under Fire: KHRC Calls for Scrapping Amid Financial Unsustainability
The Hustler Fund, a pet project of President William Ruto, is currently facing severe criticism due to high loan default rates and financial unsustainability. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has called for its complete scrapping, citing structural flaws, political manipulation, and a lack of economic empowerment for low-income Kenyans.
In their 2025 report titled "Failing the Hustlers," the KHRC reveals that the default rate for the Hustler Fund is reportedly as high as 68-71.5%, meaning for every Ksh.500 lent, Ksh.340 is lost. The report highlights several key issues, including small loan products with short repayment terms, a lack of measurable impact on job creation or enterprise development, and the Fund's perception as a political reward rather than a sound financial initiative.
The KHRC report suggests that these issues have undermined the repayment culture and fund credibility. Moreover, attempts to reform or re-engineer the Fund are unlikely to succeed due to fundamental design, political, and legal flaws. The Treasury has also reduced its allocation to the Fund drastically, reflecting dwindling government support and confidence.
Despite this, President Ruto has defended the Hustler Fund, claiming it has enabled 26 million Kenyans to access credit and has mobilized over Ksh.5 billion in savings. He insists that critics do not understand the plight of the marginalized.
However, the KHRC report did not provide evidence to support its claims about the Hustler Fund's losses, nor did it detail how the Fund is being used as a political tool. The intended purpose of the Hustler Fund was not specified in the report.
Meanwhile, other news stories are making headlines. Ghana's Defense and Environment ministers were killed in a helicopter crash, and there is a trending topic about the lasting impact of father-son bonding. Additionally, there is a popular topic this week about Ruto being on the US radar.
In other local news, MPs have threatened to impeach Mbadi and a PS for 'contempt.' Singer Jovial has welcomed his second baby.
[1] Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Report, "Failing the Hustlers" (2025) [2] Auditor General Reports (Various) [3] The Star, "Hustler Fund: KHRC report exposes Sh9.4b hole in e-Citizen" (2025) [4] The Standard, "Ruto defends Hustler Fund, calls critics 'naysayers and merchants of doom'" (2025)
- The Kenya Human Rights Commission's report, titled "Failing the Hustlers," highlights structural flaws, political manipulation, and a lack of economic empowerment for low-income Kenyans in the Hustler Fund, a pet project of President William Ruto, which has been under fire for high loan default rates and financial unsustainability.
- The report also suggests that these issues have undermined the repayment culture and fund credibility, and attempts to reform or re-engineer the Fund are unlikely to succeed due to fundamental design, political, and legal flaws.
- President Ruto defends the Hustler Fund, claiming it has enabled many Kenyans to access credit and has mobilized significant savings, but the KHRC report did not provide evidence to support its claims about the Fund's losses or detail how it is being used as a political tool.
