The Hustler Fund has disbursed Sh90 billion to 28 million borrowers since its launch, with daily lending currently standing at Sh50 million across its Personal Loan, Bridge Loan, and Hustler Groups products.

President William Ruto, following a progress briefing on the state-backed digital lending platform, highlighted that the initiative has accumulated 10 million repeat customers and mobilized Sh7 billion in national savings.

He noted that 4.5 million borrowers have earned top-tier “A” and “B” credit ratings due to responsible repayment behavior.

To boost financial literacy and business growth among beneficiaries, the Financial Inclusion Fund launched the Tukuze Hub in partnership with Strathmore University and the African Management Institute (AMI) during a beneficiary engagement forum in Mombasa on Wednesday.

The milestone comes as the Fund introduces new measures to curb defaults, which reached 15 percent (Sh12.5 billion) by March.

Borrowers can now clear their loans using Safaricom Bonga Points, at a conversion rate where roughly five points equal Sh1.

According to Hustler Fund CEO Henry Tanui, the option recovered Sh3 million in its first week alone.

Safaricom’s latest annual report showed customers held Sh3.6 billion worth of un-redeemed Bonga Points as of March 2026.

These recovery efforts are critical as the Treasury transitions the scheme toward self-sustainability, cutting fresh allocations from an initial Sh20 billion to Sh300 million for the financial year ending June 2026, with no new funding allocated for the current financial year.

Despite its growth, the platform continues to navigate operational challenges.

A recent Auditor General report flagged credit assessment gaps, revealing that 104,631 loans worth Sh116.5 million were issued to borrowers whose national identity card numbers were missing from the customer database.

Authorities continue to urge timely repayments, tying compliance directly to higher borrowing limits.