A day to his State of the Nation Address, President William Ruto called a man from Kisii County to assess the impact of the Hutsler Fund.
In the call that lasted for 10 minutes, Ruto who was at the time in a lively mood asked the man named Ondieki several questions on his experience with the low interest loan.
In his response, the man lauded Ruto’s flagship project noting that it had impacted his life.
“I fit tiles and plumbing. I took a plumbing course and got certificates,” the elated man said in the call.
Ondieki said that he has been borrowing since 2022 when the loan was launched with an initial limit of Ksh1,500.
He explained that he had been working as a plumber and tile fitting. Further, Ondieki recalled having doubted the practicality of the fund at first before trying to borrow shortly after the launch.
Upon receiving the loan, the man explained that was elated and has since then used the loan as alternative to the other loans that charge relatively higher interest loans.
Also Read: Form Groups to Get Hustler Fund, Youths Told
Ondieki narrates journey with Hustler Fund
According to him, the loan has been helping him to fund his chicken farming project and at times acquire tools for his trade.
“They eventually gave a limit of Ksh1,500. I did not expect that to happen because at first it sounded like stories because how could a stranger gave a random man money,” Ondieki added.
Currently, his loan limit has grown over time and has accumulated savings totaling Ksh88,000- a revelation of his religious payment of the loans.
When asked about his recommendations to enhance the efficiency of the fund, Ondieki asked the President to consider raising the limit of the loans.
The conversation, however, took an interesting turn after the man voiced his concerns about the economic constraints.
Like so many other Kenyans, Ondieki pleaded for action from the President to alleviate the hardships rocking most citizens.
He explained that he had a pending loan of Ksh3,000 under the Hustler Fund and that he had been struggling to raise the amount lately.
Also Read: How Hustler Fund Could Endear Ruto to the People
Ruto pulls a Tuma Salamu
At the time, Ruto chuckled and assured him that he was striving to deliver on his mandate. Ondieki later asked for an opportunity to meet the President at State House.
To his disappointment, however, Ruto explained that he had a tight schedule in the next coming days but would get back to the man.
In addition, Ruto promised to shed light and address concerns relating to the Hustler Fund in an upcoming event scheduled for November 30.
In his parting shot, the President pulled the popular “Tuma salamu” trend among Kenyans, and asked Ondieki to pass his greetings at home.
Ruto had also called several other Kenyans including a community health worker.
Ruto launched the Fund in November 2022 in a bid to provide affordable loans to middle income earners in the country.
