Will Hustler gov't give Sh100,000 to every Kenyan? Kipchumba Murkomen answers

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has explained the meaning of the bottom-up economy model being advocated by Deputy President William Ruto and his allies.

While correcting his colleague politicians, the "Hustler Nation" MP noted that there have been misrepresentations of the model.

Senator Murkomen dismissed claims that the DP Ruto administration intends to give Kenyans Sh100,000 each.

"I heard Honourable Sakaja [Nairobi Senator] lying at a pulpit, not even a political rally, that the bottom-up approach means that everybody will be given Sh100,000. I also heard Senator Moses Wetangula on radio saying that we are planning to give everybody cash. That's not the truth.

"The truth is that we want to have a financial model at the local level whereby for example, ensuring that those table banking systems are properly structured and accommodated in our legal framework to ensure that people access capital. Also going back to Saccos, some are operating exactly like banks so we have to ensure they go back to where Saccos started so that they aid the local hustlers at the grassroot level," Murkomen explained.

He went on to add that the DP and his allies intend to develop a special fund for "hustlers", should they win the presidency during the 2022 General Election.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen Pulse Live Kenya

"The Hustler government has promised to set up a fund in the model of CDF [Constituency Development Fund] that will be accessible to start-ups in the tune of up to Sh100 million per constituency and that money will not be free," he stated.

DP Ruto announced the fund in February 2021 noting that it would require Sh29 billion from the national budget.

While speaking in Mtwapa, Mombasa County the DP explained that the fund would be used to support “hustlers”.

He outlined that each of the 290 constituencies would receive a Sh100 million fund to support small businesses.

“When I talk about changing the way things are done in this country to help the small traders, some people get angry with me. I do not say what I do not know. I have thought about it and I know it can be done,” he stated.

He further argued that the current NG-CDF set at Sh100 million per constituency is proof that a further Sh100 million can be dedicated to the traders.

The Sh29 billion promise was the first of DP Ruto’s would-be manifesto for his run at the presidency.

Who is a hustler?

When asked to define the meaning of "hustlers" Senator Murkomen noted that a common misconception is that "hustlers" are poor.

"I hope you don't believe that a hustler is a poor person or that all hustlers are poor... A hustler is any person who is making a living through hard work, that's why our slogan is 'kazi ni kazi'. and our symbol is a wheelbarrow - the demonstration of resilience and hard work," the Senator explained.