A new growth initiative designed to turn Hustler Fund borrowing discipline into long-term business growth was launched in Mombasa today, marking the start of a six-month pilot running from July to December 2026 across Mombasa, Uasin Gishu and Nyeri counties.
Christened the ‘Tukuze Hub’, the initiative was unveiled at the Hustler Fund Baraza, held at the Hustler Fund Social Hall in Mombasa, a forum billed by the Fund as going beyond a traditional government event to celebrate responsible borrowers, strengthen financial literacy and connect entrepreneurs to opportunities that support business growth.
The Baraza brought together Hustler Fund leadership, national and county government officials, financial institutions, business support partners and entrepreneurs for direct engagement.
Under the pilot, each participating county will enroll 50 participants drawn from the ranks of the Hustler Fund’s top borrowers and most consistent payers, for a combined total of 150 beneficiaries. Selected borrowers were identified based on their repayment record and notified by SMS ahead of a short interview with a member of the Hustler Fund team to confirm eligibility.
The initiative is a partnership involving the African Management Institute (AMI), which is expected to deliver business training and mentorship, and Strathmore University, which is providing research support.
Official figures displayed at the launch put the Fund’s national reach at 28,026,835 opted-in customers as of July 23, 2026, with Sh89.8 billion disbursed in total. Of that amount, Sh76 billion has been repaid, leaving Sh13.8 billion in outstanding loans, while borrowers have built up Sh5.79 billion in savings, with Sh4.48 billion remaining after withdrawals.
Locally, Mombasa County accounts for 645,857 borrowers who have taken up Sh2.51 billion in loans, at an average loan size of Sh998.
Kisauni leads the county in uptake, with 172,076 subscribers and Sh640 million disbursed, followed by Likoni, Nyali, Mvita, Jomvu and Changamwe. On repayment discipline, Mvita and Nyali posted the strongest 30-day repayment rates, at 89.3 per cent and 88.4 per cent respectively, while Likoni trailed at 81.1 per cent.
Mercy Murigi, Programme Manager at the African Management Institute, said the initiative goes beyond access to capital. She said participants will receive additional business support covering record-keeping, market growth strategies and skills in managing employees, alongside broader business training aimed at sustainable growth.
Cavin Otieno, Associate Director of Grants at Strathmore University, said the two institutions’ core mandate is to empower micro, small and medium enterprises through targeted capacity building, financial literacy and business development support.
He noted that equipping entrepreneurs with practical skills and sustainable business practices is essential to strengthening their resilience and promoting long-term growth.
Among those selected for the Mombasa cohort is Charles Thuo, a welder from Magongo who also runs a carwash business. Thuo credited the Fund’s low interest rates and his consistent repayment record with helping him grow both ventures.
“The low interest rates help us a lot because sometimes I borrow to buy soap and other supplies for my carwash business,” he said.
Mary Wangari, who runs a broiler poultry business, shared a similar story. She first borrowed from the Fund with a limit of Sh700 to boost a business she started in 2014, after facing early setbacks that forced her to restart operations in 2018.
Wangari said the Fund’s low interest rates and her track record of paying on time saw her borrowing limit grow steadily. She is now working to build a third poultry house, a sign, she says, of how far the business has come.
She encouraged Kenyans to borrow and repay on time, as that increases their limit and can potentially help grow their businesses.
“Just borrow and repay even if it’s Sh500 or Sh700; there is no small cash in business as long as you have a goal you want to achieve,” she said.
– By Joan Kinuthia, KNA
