Hustler Fund Code *254#: 2026 Loans, Limits & Repayment

The Hustler Fund (officially the Financial Inclusion Fund) is a Government of Kenya digital loan programme accessed by dialling *254# on Safaricom, Airtel, or Telkom. It offers personal loans of KSh 100–50,000 at 8% per year, plus bridge and group loans, and automatically saves 5% of every loan. It is still active and lending in 2026.

Quick reference:

Item	Detail (verified July 2026)
USSD code	*254# (all networks: Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom)
App access	Hustler Fund mini-app inside the M-Pesa app
Personal loan range	KSh 100 – KSh 50,000
Interest	8% per annum, pro-rated daily
Personal loan term	14 days (9.5% p.a. penalty rate after day 14)
Bridge loan term	30–60 days (8% within 30 days; 9.5% for days 31–60)
Savings deduction	5% of every loan (70% pension, 30% lock savings)
Fees	No application, processing, or transaction fees

Is the Hustler Fund still active in 2026?

Yes. The Hustler Fund is live in July 2026 and all three products - personal, bridge, and group loans - are available on *254#.

What has changed is how it is funded. In the 2026/27 budget, the National Treasury removed the Fund from planned development spending, ending fresh state allocations from July 2026. The government's position is that the Fund now sustains itself by recycling repayments into new loans (TechTrends KE, May 2026).

The numbers behind that decision:

• KSh 83 billion in cumulative lending by March 2026, with KSh 71 billion repaid (TechTrends KE, citing Treasury figures)
• 24.7 million Kenyans with credit profiles built through the Fund (President.go.ke)
• Default rate down to 15% by March 2026, from a peak of 78% in 2024, after an aggressive recovery drive (The Star, March 2026)

For borrowers, day-to-day access is unchanged: dial *254# and the menu works exactly as before.

What is the Hustler Fund USSD code?

The Hustler Fund USSD code is *254#. It works on Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom lines - no separate code per network. The digits mirror Kenya's +254 country code, which makes it easy to remember.

You do not need a smartphone, internet bundles, or a bank account. Any phone that can dial a USSD code can register, borrow, check balances, and repay.

What products does the Hustler Fund offer in 2026?

Product	Who it's for	Amount	Term	Interest
Personal Loan	Any eligible adult	KSh 100–50,000	14 days	8% p.a. pro-rated; 9.5% p.a. after day 14
Bridge Loan	Category A (and select Category B) borrowers with strong repayment history	Higher limits, set by credit score	30–60 days	8% within 30 days; 9.5% days 31–60; default after day 61
Group Loan	Registered groups/chamas of 10–100 members on the same network	Based on group profile	Set per facility	Concessionary

The Bridge Loan, launched in December 2024, is the big change from the Fund's early years. It rewards on-time repayers with larger amounts and a longer window. State House said at launch that top borrowers could triple their limits - someone at KSh 50,000 moving to as much as KSh 150,000 (State House Kenya).

Who qualifies for a Hustler Fund loan?

• Kenyan citizen aged 18 or older with a valid national ID
• SIM card active for at least 90 days on Safaricom, Airtel, or Telkom
• Registered mobile money account (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, or T-Kash)

No CRB clearance, payslip, bank statement, guarantor, or collateral is required. One registration per person - you cannot register the same ID on multiple networks.

How do you register and borrow via *254#?

Register (first time only):

1. Dial *254# on the line linked to your mobile money account.
2. Read and accept the terms and conditions.
3. Confirm with your mobile money PIN.
4. Wait for the SMS confirming your registration and initial loan limit (typically within a couple of hours). First-time limits usually start small - around KSh 500–1,000.

Borrow:

1. Dial *254# and select Loan Request.
2. View your available limit and the loan terms.
3. Enter the amount (minimum KSh 100, up to your limit).
4. Confirm with your PIN.
5. The money lands in your mobile money wallet instantly. 5% of the loan is deducted automatically into savings - 70% to your pension account, 30% to lock savings. Borrow KSh 1,000 and you receive KSh 950, with KSh 35 going to pension and KSh 15 to lock savings.

How do you borrow through the app?

There is no standalone Hustler Fund app. Official smartphone access is through the Hustler Fund mini-app inside the M-Pesa app:

1. Open the M-Pesa app (download from Google Play or the App Store if needed).
2. Go to the mini-apps section and select Hustler Fund.
3. Log in, view your limit, and request a loan - same terms and limits as USSD.

Avoid third-party "Hustler Fund" apps on app stores. The only official channels are *254#, the mobile money mini-app, and hustlerfund.go.ke.

How do you repay a Hustler Fund loan?

Repayment happens inside the same USSD menu - you do not need a separate paybill number:

1. Dial *254# and select Repay Loan.
2. Choose Full Repayment (the system shows your total balance) or Partial Repayment (enter any amount, cents included).
3. Confirm with your mobile money PIN. The money is drawn from your wallet.
4. You receive an SMS with your updated balance.

You can also repay from the M-Pesa mini-app, or use the Pay for Other option under *254# to clear a loan on someone else's behalf.

Repay on time. Personal loans are due in 14 days. After day 14 the rate rises from 8% to 9.5% per annum, your limit stops growing, and prolonged default freezes your account. In 2026 the stakes are higher: unresolved Hustler Fund defaults have been reported to block access to other government programmes, including NYOTA youth employment money, and Parliament has been pushing the Fund to pursue defaulters harder (Capital FM, March 2026).

How do you grow your Hustler Fund limit?

The Fund runs a behavioural credit rating system (Categories A–C). Five habits move your score:

1. Repay by day 14 - the single biggest factor.
2. Borrow regularly - dormant accounts don't build a profile.
3. Leave your savings untouched - the 5% deduction signals discipline.
4. Use a meaningful share of your limit and clear it.
5. Keep your SIM and mobile money active.

Category A borrowers unlock the Bridge Loan: bigger amounts, 30–60 day terms, and a documented pathway toward formal credit. If your limit is stuck, run two or three small borrow-and-repay-early cycles - this is the fastest documented route to a review.

What changed in 2026? (Summary for returning borrowers)

• No new Treasury funding from July 2026 - the Fund now revolves on repayments. Products remain live.
• Default rate down to 15% (from 78% in 2024) after recovery campaigns and repayment-linked incentives.
• Write-off in motion: the government announced plans to write off roughly KSh 6 billion in early defaults deemed unrecoverable (Citizen Digital).
• Defaulters face real consequences: blocked access to bridge/group products and reported exclusion from other state programmes until loans are cleared.
• Bridge Loan is now the growth path - 14-day personal loans are the entry point, not the ceiling.

Where can I get help?

Email info@hustlerfund.go.ke or use the contacts listed at hustlerfund.go.ke.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Hustler Fund USSD code?

The Hustler Fund code is *254#. It works on Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom, and covers registration, borrowing, balance checks, and repayment.

Is the Hustler Fund still working in 2026?

Yes. All products are live on *254# and the M-Pesa mini-app. Treasury stopped fresh allocations from July 2026, but the Fund continues lending from recycled repayments.

How much can I borrow from the Hustler Fund?

Personal loans run from KSh 100 to KSh 50,000, based on your credit score. Top-rated borrowers qualify for the Bridge Loan with higher limits and 30–60 day terms.

How do I repay my Hustler Fund loan?

Dial *254#, select Repay Loan, choose full or partial repayment, and confirm with your mobile money PIN. There is no separate paybill - everything runs through *254# or the mini-app.

What happens if I don't repay in 14 days?

The interest rate rises from 8% to 9.5% per annum, your limit stops growing, and continued default freezes borrowing. Defaults can also block access to bridge loans, group loans, and other government facilities.

Do I need CRB clearance to get a Hustler Fund loan?

No. There is no CRB check, payslip, or collateral requirement. You need a valid Kenyan ID, a SIM active for 90+ days, and a registered mobile money account.

Can I access my Hustler Fund savings?

The 5% deduction splits 70/30: the pension portion is locked until retirement age, while the lock-savings portion supports your borrowing profile. Check the current withdrawal rules on *254#.

Is there a Hustler Fund app?

Not a standalone one. Use the Hustler Fund mini-app inside the M-Pesa app, or dial *254#. Treat any other "Hustler Fund" app as unofficial.

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