Sossion: Hustler Fund helping millions even if middle class can’t see it
By Paulette Mboga, August 7, 2025Former KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has defended the Hustler Fund, saying it continues to uplift millions of Kenyans at the grassroots level even as criticism mounts over its transparency and impact.
Sossion, in a TV interview on Thursday, August 7, 2025, stated that 26 million Kenyans have borrowed from the Fund, terming it a “significant achievement.”
“Middle-class Kenyans cannot see the beauty of Hustler Fund, but the hustlers know its importance,” Sossion said, emphasising that the initiative is delivering real economic relief to the majority of Kenyans living outside urban privilege.
Critics question transparency
Despite praise from leaders like Sossion, the Hustler Fund has faced growing scrutiny over its management and effectiveness. Governance expert Fred Ogolla raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the fund’s operations.
“Instead of Hustler Fund giving people KSh500 or KSh1000, empower education for every child, stock medicines in hospitals,” Ogolla said. “I have a problem with Hustler Fund because—Do you know the CEO of the fund? Do you know Hustler Fund offices? If your money gets lost, where will you go to demand for refund?”
His comments reflect ongoing public debates about whether the Fund is a sustainable solution to economic challenges or a politically branded short-term fix lacking accountability.
The controversy intensified after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna demanded answers from Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya over the recent Hustler Fund audit.
Referring to a report released by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Sifuna said the findings raised serious red flags and questioned why the ministry had not responded with its data.
“The Kenya Human Rights Commission called for the scrapping of the Hustler Fund and gave concrete reasons,” Sifuna wrote on his Facebook page. “Instead of the ministry giving us its data that contradicts that of the KHRC, they dismissed the report as politically motivated. Leo Oparanya amesema he needs time to find his alternative facts.”
As public debate continues, the government faces pressure to not only defend the fund’s impact but also to ensure accountability and transparency for the billions disbursed. While some leaders praise its reach, others demand more than numbers, they need answers.