Hustler Fund Chief Executive Henry Tanui has revealed that the government will use national ID records to track borrowers who default on loans. This follows concerns over Ksh12 billion in unpaid loans since the fund's launch in November 2022. Tanui appeared before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee on March 5, 2026.
Hustler Fund Chief Executive Henry Tanui appeared before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee on March 5, 2026, where he disclosed new mechanisms to track defaulters on the microcredit facility. According to Tanui, borrowers registered using personal details linked to their national IDs, enabling authorities to trace those who refuse to repay. "The young people who think that they can borrow money from the government and disappear, they can't, because we know how we will get you," Tanui stated.
He explained that during signup, applicants provide identification and location details, which can now identify and locate individuals failing to repay loans. "The loan is tied to the National ID, and that ID can give the government the geographical location where you are because during onboarding you provide your location details," Tanui told the committee.
Tanui reported that Kenyans have borrowed approximately Ksh83 billion through the Hustler Fund since its launch on November 30, 2022, with only Ksh71 billion repaid, leaving Ksh12 billion outstanding. The fund, officially the Financial Inclusion Fund, was introduced by President William Ruto to provide affordable credit at 8 percent annual interest to small traders, micro-businesses, and individuals.
The government has received approval from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to access records of about 20 million registered Kenyans. This will aid in monitoring repayment patterns and pursuing borrowers who evade payments by changing phone numbers or discarding SIM cards. "Young people who think they can borrow and disappear cannot do so because we will get to you using your IDs," Tanui warned. Despite rising defaulters, Tanui maintained that the government has not lost money on the program and is confident in recovering the outstanding amounts.
