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Hustler Fund USSD: registration and loan via *254# (Kenya 2026)

Everything you need on the Hustler Fund USSD.

AO
by Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 8 min read Updated 26 August 2026Verified 26 Aug 2026

Step 1: register (opt in)

  1. Dial *254#.
  2. Follow the opt-in prompts. Provide the requested KYC.
  3. Confirm and pay the one-off registration fee.

Step 2: request a loan

  1. Dial *254#.
  2. Select Loan.
  3. The menu shows your current limit.
  4. Enter the amount within limit.
  5. Confirm with M-PESA PIN.
  6. Funds land in M-PESA within seconds. 5 percent is diverted to savings.

Step 3: check savings pot

  1. Dial *254#.
  2. Select Savings.
  3. Menu shows short-term and long-term balances.

Step 4: repay

Automatic if your M-PESA balance covers the amount on the due date (typically 14 days out). To repay manually, dial *254# and select Repay Loan.

Cost

Interest at 8 percent per annum (subsidised). On a 14-day KES 5,000 loan the interest is small. Late repayment carries a higher penalty rate; see the *254# menu for current schedule and the paybillke Hustler Fund review for the honest cost picture.

If the code fails

  • Network congestion is the most common cause. Retry after a minute.
  • Confirm you are on the registered Safaricom line.
  • Try dialling from a location with stronger signal.
  • If it continues to fail, contact the Hustler Fund help line published on the official Financial Inclusion Fund channel.

Sources

  1. Government of Kenya. Financial Inclusion Fund (Hustler Fund) programme, product terms displayed inside the *254# menu.
  2. Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development. Hustler Fund operational details.

FAQ

What is the Hustler Fund USSD?

*254# from a registered Safaricom line. Menu leads to opt-in, loan request, savings pot balance, and repayment.

Do I need to register first?

Yes. Opt in from the *254# menu on first use. A small one-off registration fee applies. Then you can request a loan.

Why is my limit 0?

Either you have not built repayment history yet, or you missed a prior repayment. Repayment history is the only lever that grows the limit.

Further reading

Curated external sources we cite. Open in a new tab.