The Hustler Fund, also known as the Inclusion Fund, hosted a town hall session in Eldoret for hundreds of its beneficiaries, who were urged to invest borrowed funds in productive ventures to expand their businesses, create wealth and improve their livelihoods.
Hustler Fund CEO Henry Tanui said they are committed to ensuring they work with all other financial and business experts to transform the lives of borrowers.
Counties are also working with the fund to support the borrowers.
Tanui urged the entrepreneurs to work diligently, remain focused on their business goals and ensure the loans serve their intended purpose.
He said the programme allows borrowers to improve their economic standing through enterprise development and responsible credit use.
“We have also carried out a series of training programmes to ensure the borrowers are empowered financially so that they use funds well to expand investments,” Tanui said.
He spoke during the town hall engagement with top borrowers and young entrepreneurs from Uasin Gishu county.
Trade executive Dr Philip Chebunet emphasised the need for borrowers to have clear business goals and make prudent use of the credit to achieve lasting economic gains.
He praised the Hustler Fund for widening access to affordable credit, saying the programme gives Kenyans an opportunity to access financing based on their borrowing limits and entrepreneurial needs.
He encouraged beneficiaries to prioritise income-generating activities, saying purposeful investment would strengthen their enterprises, increase earnings and enable them to meet their loan repayment obligations.
Cooperatives chief officer Elphas Kesio welcomed the collaboration between the national and county governments, saying joint efforts to empower entrepreneurs are essential in advancing economic inclusion and improving the welfare of residents.
The engagement gave beneficiaries a platform to gain practical insights into business management, responsible borrowing and effective use of credit.
Several entrepreneurs also shared their experiences, recounting how access to Hustler Fund loans had helped them sustain and grow their businesses, demonstrating the programme’s role in supporting grassroots economic empowerment.
Tanui said the fund is also training successful borrowers to transition to larger lenders like banks, who have the capacity to give out more assistance.
“We have had experts training our successful borrowers on how best to manage more financial support, which they can access from financial institutions in the private sector,” he said.
