On Wednesday, December 7, Azimio la Umoja party leader Raila Odinga told hustler fund borrowers not to repay their loans.
The opposition leader who spoke at the iconic Kamukunji Grounds in Kibra, Nairobi said the hustler fund was not anchored in the law.
Raila said the KSh 500 loan was so inadequate to help Kenyans start a meaningful business and asked Kenyans to treat the kitty as part of the KSh 6k social welfare fund that the Azimio la Umoja had promised Kenyans during the campaigns.
“We had promised Kenyan households who are at the lower cadre that we were to disburse KSh 6k per month. In the hustler fund, you are given KSh 500 to start a business. Is it really adequate to start any meaningful business?” Raila asked.
However, allies of Kenya’s President William Ruto have cautioned Raila against inciting Kenyans not to pay for the hustler fund loan.
Led by Mukurweini MP John Kagucha, the leaders faulted the former Prime Minister for misleading Kenyans.
Kagucha who was speaking during an interview on Thursday, December 8, said inciting Kenyans against paying the loans was not only affecting their credit score but also disempowering Azimio supporters economically.
“I want to urge Azimio to stop misleading their fans about the Hustler fund because it will make it impossible for them to borrow money in the future which will damage their credit score. It will be an economic disempowerment of their supporters,” Kagucha said.
Earlier in the day, President William Ruto had asked Kenyans who have borrowed the hustler fund to repay the loan within the stipulated time.
“We have launched the first phase of the Hustler fund, we are set to launch the second phase in February and I want to urge Kenyans who have borrowed already to pay their debts so they can add their limit,” the president said.
