Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The First Lady, during a women’s empowerment programme on September 8, 2026 said the investments were meant to remove some of the barriers that prevent women from taking part fully in economic activities.
The President said political competition should be based on ideas and solutions rather than insults and political chants, challenging his opponents to demonstrate how they would run the country differently.
benefit ordinary citizens.
Ichung’wah also defended the Affordable Housing Programme, saying it was benefiting those who qualify for the houses while creating opportunities for workers involved in construction.
In Marsabit, 1,570 youth received the first Sh25,000 business support grant under the programme, while the second phase is supporting 1,680 beneficiaries, including young people joining NYOTA for the first time.
Speaking during the 2026 World MSME Day celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Saturday, Ruto said the fund has become a key part of the government's plan to bring more Kenyans into the formal financial system and support enterprise growth.
Speaking during the event, Ruto confirmed that he will personally join the Sacco and contribute to its initial capital base following consultations with Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.
Mbadi said the fund has grown into one of the largest financial inclusion interventions in the country, reaching millions of Kenyans who were previously locked out of formal lending systems.
The Hustler Fund, introduced in late 2022, was designed as a major financial inclusion tool targeting boda boda riders, mama mbogas, kiosk owners and young entrepreneurs who often rely on expensive informal lenders.
The Cabinet Secretary said one of the government’s flagship programmes, the Hustler Fund, has so far reached more than 27 million Kenyans through collateral-free digital loans of up to Sh150,000.
The session brought together Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni, Hustler Fund chief executive officer Henry Tanui, and Uwezo Fund chief executive officer Peter Lengapiani, alongside Members of Parliament and other government representatives. Discussions centered on accountability, legal structure challenges, and how to improve access to credit for millions of citizens involved in small-scale trade and enterprise.
Launched in 2022, the Financial Inclusion Fund, commonly known as the Hustler Fund, was designed to provide affordable loans ranging from Sh100 to Sh50,000 to support small businesses and informal sector workers. It was intended to ease access to quick credit for daily operations such as buying inputs and paying labour.