PS Rono warns hustler fund defaulters, says they risk missing out on NYOTA grants
By Emmanuel Rono, October 6, 2025Kenyans who have defaulted on their Hustler Fund loan from the government are not going to benefit from the government’s new NYOTA Programme due to their credit history.
According to Aurelia Rono, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs, who led the launch of the NYOTA Programme at St. Bhakita Hall in Bomet County on Monday, October 6, 2025, stated that the individuals who fail to pay the hustler fund clearly show that their credit report is not good.
She added that if an individual did not manage to pay back the hustler fund, it means they are not eligible to run their businesses.
“For this NYOTA Programme, you will not benefit if you take and never return. This shows that your credit report is not good,” PS Rono said.
She adds, “If you cannot return the money you borrowed, then how can you manage your business?”
This comes after Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya said Kenyans who defaulted on Hustler Fund repayment will face challenges when seeking loans from other financial institutions.
The PS said that loan repayment is essential for maintaining credibility and ensuring a positive report on the history of loans borrowed, and thus benefiting from future state financial support.
“So, at the end of the day, it is good to be responsible with what we are doing; the money you have been given is meant to assist you in your business,” PS Rono stated.
Will be held accountable
She explained that those who have defaulted will be held accountable, but the government will not be discouraged from implementing additional assistance programs under the Kenya Kwanza Initiative.
“It is a business… It’s a taxpayer’s money that you need to use prudently to improve your life, but those who defaulted will undoubtedly have to make some sort of payment. They won’t disappear completely,” PS Rono said.
According to the PS, the Hustler Fund has so far disbursed over Ksh74 billion to support 25.6 million people, with a number of them repaying.
She stated that some have attained the bridge loan to get a higher amount due to their good credibility.
However, she pointed out that some Kenyans have not paid back the funds because they believe the loan was free money.
“We have a few who think that this is free money, let’s borrow and then we eat or we do whatever we want to do with it, because no one will follow you, but at the end of the day, utashikwa tu,” PS Rono said.
The NYOTA Programme is designed to give entrepreneurs a startup of 50,000 shillings. However, the PS explained that the Hustler Fund was meant to achieve two key goals: to assist people in starting businesses and, critically, to help them strengthen their credit profile.