A surprising discovery has come from Kenya’s Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu. On February 26, 2025, she revealed that loans amounting to KES 31,817,085 from the Hustler Fund were given to 44,167 borrowers who were either too young or not yet born when the loans were issued.
This information, covering the year ending on June 30, 2024, raises serious concerns about the honesty of the government’s main microcredit program.
The Hustler Fund was started by President William Ruto in November 2022 to help low-income Kenyans get affordable loans. To qualify, borrowers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid national ID.
However, the audit found problems that showed loans were given to people whose birth dates showed they were below the legal age, or in some cases, were born after the loans were given out, meaning they were “unborn” at the time.
Auditor General Gathungu’s report, which was presented to the National Assembly, has caused public anger and calls for an investigation into how these mistakes happened.
Gathungu pointed out, “This shows important failures in the checks we need to make,” urging quick action to fix the issue.
The Hustler Fund, which is a key part of Ruto’s plan to empower the economy, has given out billions of shillings to many Kenyans since it began.
Still, it has faced ongoing criticism for high default rates and poor management.
This new audit finding adds to the debate, with critics calling it a potential “active crime scene” due to claims of mismanagement.
Opposition leaders are using this report to demand accountability, accusing the government of not protecting public funds.
As more questions arise, many Kenyans are left wondering about the trustworthiness of a program meant to support the country’s hard-working individuals.
