Government seeks public opinion on ‘Hustler Fund’

The Government has rolled a three – day event ,seeking views from the members of public on the ‘Hustler Fund’, which aims at offering small enterprises affordable loans.

The National Treasury and Economic Planning said the event, which commenced on Monday 14, will be conducted in Nairobi, Kitui, Mombasa, Nakuru, Meru, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Kisii counties.

In pursuant to Sections 4 (a) and 5 (3) (a) and (b) of the Statutory Instrument Act, 2013, all interested members of the general public are advised to submit written comments and or inputs/memoranda on the draft Public Finance Management (Financial Inclusion Fund) Regulations, 2022 in the format provided on the website, as directed by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) National Treasury and Economic Planning Njuguna Ndug’u in his statement.

The President had earlier said that plans were underway to operationalize the fund by December 1, 2022.

Hustler Fund seeks to offer single-digit interest rate loan facilities to small businesses such as “mama mbogas”, boda bodas, among others.

The Sh50 billion fund is part of President goal of uplifting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through “Bottom-up” approach.

Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndugu gave a clear direction and public opinion box where the comments and compliments could be channeled.

“The comments or inputs or memoranda may be forwarded to the Principal Secretary, National Treasury, P.O. Box 30007-00100, Nairobi; hand delivered to the Office of the Principal Secretary, National Treasury Building, Nairobi; or soft copy emailed to ps@treasury.go.ke, with a copy to hustlersfund@treasury.go.ke to be received by Friday, 18th November, 2022 at 5.00 pm,” Njuguna said.