Please wait...

PS Mang’eni Dismisses Claims of Hustler Fund Disbursement to Minors

PS MSMEs Susan Mang'eni alongside Commissioner for Cooperatives Development, David Obonyo
Board member to Members to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives
Board member to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives
Commissioner for Cooperatives Development, David Obonyo
Delegataes present at the National Committee meeting
Hon. Susan Mang'eni, CBS alongside CFO State Department MSMEs Development
Member to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Cooperatives, Trade and Industry
Member to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade , Industry and Co-operatives
Member to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives
Member to the National Assembly Departmental Committee
Members to theNational Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives
National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives member
Principal Secretary Hon. Susan Mang'eni speaks during National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives

PS Mang’eni Dismisses Claims of Hustler Fund Disbursement to Minors

News / Fri, 03/07/2025 - 05:30

Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development, Susan Mang'eni, and Commissioner for Cooperatives Development, David Obonyo, today led officials from the ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs in presenting the supplementary estimates for the 2024/25 financial year to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, chaired by Hon. Maryanne Keitany.

During the meeting, PS Mang’eni strongly refuted claims that the Hustler Fund had been disbursed to minors or other ineligible beneficiaries, assuring the committee that no funds had been lost or misallocated, emphasizing that the loan facility remains secure and strictly regulated.

An audit report covering the 2023/24 financial year had raised concerns that some beneficiaries were recorded as unborn individuals, with projected birth dates ranging from July 2024 to December 2073. However, Mang’eni dismissed these claims, attributing them to errors in data extraction.

"The data used in the audit report contained significant extraction error  because that audit is not done in a live environment. We have since cleaned up the records, and all individuals sampled have verified identity cards and telephone numbers," she stated.

Mang’eni further assured the committee that the Hustler Fund's system does not allow minors to access loans, reinforcing the government's commitment to transparency and accountability in managing the fund.

The Hustler Fund, a flagship initiative designed to support small businesses and individual entrepreneurs, remains a critical tool in driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment. The PS reiterated that proper safeguards are in place to ensure funds reach the intended beneficiaries.