Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has insisted that those who defaulted in repaying part of the Sh60 billion loans given out under the Hustler Fund will have to repay.
Oparanya said the money was given out to more than 20 million borrowers out of whom only 2 million serviced the loans as required.
Oparanya said the money would be recovered so that it could be used to help other Kenyans through the same schemes
“Those who took the money and did not repay should know that the solution to a debt is to pay back and not to run away," he said.
He said no matter how far they go and no matter the time, the borrowers will be made to pay back because the government intended to use the scheme to uplift the lives of many Kenyans.
Oparanya spoke in Uasin Gishu county where he attended a dairy stakeholders meeting and also toured Allo Dairies at Seiyo near Cheptiret.
He was with Uasin Gishu deputy governor Evans Kapkea and director of Allo Dairies Geraldine Jeruto.
Oparanya said the hustler fund was one of the schemes through which the government planned to ensure Kenyans have money to invest in income-generation activities.
“The 2 million who borrowed and repaid have improved their credit score and can now borrow up to Sh150,000 from the fund," the CS said.
The CS urged dairy farmers to improve productivity because the government was also keen to support their activities.
He said daily milk intake at New KCC has been increased to over 400,000 litres daily and that the company would as of next month pay bonuses to those who deliver their milk to the firm.
CS Oparanya said the company would pay farmers promptly for their deliveries between the 5th and 10th of every month.
He publicly gave out his mobile phone number so that the farmers could text him if they faced any challenges.
Oparanya also urged the farmers to strengthen their dairy cooperative societies so that they can easily access money for school fees and other activities.
Oparanya also urged the farmers to venture into growing coffee which he said was a lucrative agricultural activity.
Later the CS hosted a similar activity at Seregea in Kakamega county.
