A Kenyan youth has torn apart President William Ruto’s Hustler Fund success story, saying young compatriots have nothing to smile about .
President William Ruto was abundant with words praising the Hustler Fund for transforming the lives of low-income Kenyans.
Youth advocate Shikoh Kihika was, however, not amused by the head of state’s statements during the State of the Nation address .
She said that the numerous youths who had borrowed Hustler Fund money only did it because they could not afford a meal, not to start businesses
Executive Director at Tribeless Youth (Ubuntu Creatives Space) Shikoh Kihika differed with President William Ruto on the Hustler Fund’s success story.
Fund is among Ruto’s pet projects to address the needs of low-income Kenyans, whom he popularly refers to as hustlers.
During the State of the Nation address, the president waxed lyrical about the success of the Hustler Fund, saying it had exceeded .
Edwin Sifuna Claims Hustler Fund Has Deprived Mama Mbogas of Customers: “People Have No Money”.
By the end of October, the Fund had disbursed KSh 36.6 billion, with KSh 2.3 billion in savings and 7.5 million recorded as repeat borrowers whose repayment was 73%.
The top borrower of the fund has accessed a total of KSh 4.5 million in 816 transactions.
The top voluntary saver is at KSh 631,491,” Ruto stated during the address, which received mixed reactions among Kenyans.
Ruto’s sentiments, however, did not go well with Tribeless Youth Founder Shiko Kihika, who said young Kenyans had nothing good to write home about the fund.
Kenyan youths speak on Hustler Fund gains and losses “It is not a success story for young people.
Most young people who took the Hustler Fund used it to buy a meal for that day.
Most of the youth could access KSh 500 and KSh 1000 only,” argued Kihika during an interview at Citizen TV.
Minimise Telling Lies, Ekuru Aukot Tells William Ruto over State of Nation Address She said the president was assuming that every person who borrowed the Hustler Fund did it for investment, improving their livelihoods, and rubbished the assumption.
Shikoh Kihika takes on Ruto on Hustler Fund “If I had chicken and threw maize to them without a strategy, how many would be able to feed and how many would not? You can have millions to be borrowed, but what is the impact? What are the youths doing with the money?” Posed Kihika.
She said it was illogical for the government to claim that it had given youths money to start businesses like vending boiled eggs and then do nothing when county askaris destroy these investments.
“If you get KSh 1,000 to start an egg vending business and county askaris take it away, how has it affected your life?” quizzed Kihika.
Kihika also said the government should come out clear on which bank the Hustler Fund was linked to.
