EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HUSTLER FUND IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

The Hustler Fund is a digital finance initiative by the Kenyan government aimed at providing
affordable credit to citizens with low income and vulnerability through mobile technology. This paper
evaluates the economic empowerment impact of the Hustler Fund on recipients in Uasin Gishu County in
Kenya. The study explores the theories behind financial inclusion and provides empirical evidence on the
impact of the Hustler Fund on economic empowerment, feedback on the fund from the recipients in the Uasin
Gishu County, and recommendations to improve the initiative. The findings show that the Hustler Fund has
been successful in providing financial services to the populace, who had otherwise been excluded for one
reason or another. However, certain issues require improvement, such as financial literacy, financial integrity,
and financial capability. Furthermore, the Hustler Fund should aim to provide financial services and products
fairly and safely, and its operations should aim to eliminate the constraints put by financial systems, especially
the mainstream financial services that lead to the discrimination of the vulnerable and marginalised in society.
Other recommendations to improve the Hustler fund include the need to provide financial literacy, increase
the credit limit and repayment period, guarantee data protection, articulating financial capability and continue
public participation. Therefore, the Hustler fund has the potential to increase financial inclusion and
empowerment for all citizens irrespective of socioeconomic background in Kenya