President William Ruto is briefed by MSMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya on the progress the Hustler Fund has made at State House, Nairobi, July 29, 2026. /PCSThe scale of the impact the Hustler Fund is having on Kenyans may be difficult to measure, but one Kenyan’s cheeky remark about how resourceful the fund can be has sparked debate online.
In a Facebook post after receiving a briefing on the progress of the Financial Inclusion Fund, President William Ruto highlighted the gains the initiative has made in improving the lives of Kenyans.
A Kenyan calling himself Harry Harry weighed in on the post in the comment section, saying he survives on a modest monthly budget to save money, seemingly to avoid borrowing more.
“I only spend Sh600 per month on food because I only eat when I feel dizzy. Most of the weekends I attend funerals and weddings; it saves a lot,” he said.
The comment sparked reactions, with some pointing out that his financial survival tactics could ultimately cost him more.
“Harry Harry, what about fare attending those funeral, weeding dowry you spend alot,” one person asked, while a couple of others supported his strategy as a “good idea”.
“Harry Harry, you are good at saving money during difficult times like this,” another said.
Ruto launched the Hustler Fund on November 30, 2022, to provide affordable credit, empower low-income earners and free informal traders from predatory lenders.
The initiative was among several measures he unveiled to fulfil his pre-election pledge to economically uplift ordinary low-income workers, better known as hustlers.
The fund offers low-interest mobile loans at 8 per cent per year to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), roadside traders and ordinary citizens locked out of traditional banking.
In his highlights after receiving the progress report at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said the fund had so far disbursed Sh90 billion to 28 million borrowers through three products — Personal Loan, Bridge Loan and Hustler Groups — lending Sh50 million a day.
He added that the fund has 10 million repeat borrowers, 4.5 million of whom have good scores of A and B because of their borrowing and repayment behaviour.
“The borrowers have saved Sh7 billion, a major achievement in the role the Hustler Fund was meant to play in mobilising national savings,” the President said.
“I am very proud that these milestones have been achieved purely on a digital platform and the processes have all been digitised,” he added.
Ruto said the government would continue resourcing the fund so Kenyans could keep accessing what he described as the most affordable credit in the country.
