MJ has accomplished a lot in a relatively short time: from
generating enormous wealth for Safaricom’s shareholders to creating employment
directly and indirectly for hundreds of thousands of Kenyans, Safaricom has
left an indelible mark in Kenya’s economy.
Sadly I believe that MJ had the resources, political clout, and
stamina to do so much more at Safaricom and I rue the missed opportunities.
1.
Promoting Kenya’s software developers
community. MPESA is definitely Safaricom’s best ever product but it is
disappointing that MJ did not ensure that the intellectual property for this
product remained in Kenya and contributed to Kenya’s budding developers’
community. I do not know who developed MPESA but I know there existed
sufficient technology expertise in Kenya to do it but currently Safaricom must
pay license fees to Vodafone to use MPESA and woe unto us the day someone
decides to stop paying the license fees. It was also telling that the aborted Safaricom
Innovation Forum seemed to perpetuate this thinking, so more MPESA-like ideas would
still have been lost to Vodafone. See the disturbing clauses below of the
Innovation Forum’s terms and conditions [the forum has since been taken down]
“(a) That the
submissions and its contents will automatically become the property of
Safaricom, without any compensation whatsoever to you;
(b) That Safaricom
may use or redistribute the submissions and their contents for any purpose and
in any way;”
2.
Breaking the culture of impunity. As our
region’s largest and most respected company, I would have wished that Safaricom
used its prominence as a bully pulpit to encourage the changing of business
ethics in East Africa for the better. As it is however, Safaricom’s own
business ethics were questionable as it stood accused of unethical business
practices (remember Riftberry saga) , overcharging its customers (and only
giving refunds when challenged) and talking down to its’ customers (peculiar
calling habits), agents (ignoring phone calls, agent visits), competitors(Bharti’s
pricing strategy is unsustainable and Safaricom has no intention of getting
engaged in similar pricing) and partners (Barclays & other banks -
Work
with us or we take over Kenya's retail banking). MJ
had a great opportunity to show how private sector could change the culture of
arrogance and impunity that is engraved in the Kenyan psyche, but sadly this
never happened.
3.
Promoting an open society. As
the largest provider of communication and information services, Safaricom was
best placed to agitate for freedom of access to public information and privacy
of individuals. However it chose to send out SMS at the request of the
government during Kenya’s darkest hour instead of remaining neutral and meekly supported
the registration of SIM cards which has no backing in law, and no justifiable use
apart from privacy invasion by the government/Safaricom.
So as we celebrate what has been accomplished in 10 years by MJ,
I feel we should also point out to him what more he could have done; and
hopefully can do in his next venture for which I wish him the very best.
Harry Karanja
From: kictanet-bounces+kairo=softlaw.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+kairo=softlaw.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Sam Aguyo
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 1:35 PM
To: kairo@softlaw.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: [kictanet] The big Kwaheri: reflecting on 10 years on the MJ
10yr safari and his-tory - day 4
In a number
of cases we pay for services and get service. For instance i leave in
Nairobi work in town and have to travel everyday to work using matatus. I
feel quite unsafe since the matatus that i use does not guarantee me that they
will reach the destination even though i have paid for the service. Where
we consider developed, one would pay more but guaranteed the service and we
feel happy about it and talk about it and when we seek visas to those places
sometimes we seek the intervention of our Priests, Pastors and Sheiks to pray
for us to get a visa. What is the difference between those places and
Kenya, simple services are guaranteed. I think the government is you and
me since the taxes collected are use to pave roads, build hospitals... and
sometimes pay high salaries to some people.
When a
service does not work, let us address the specific service with the relevant
people. How many places do we pay for services that we do not get and do
not dare complain? I think as a scholar i can learn and draw inspiration
from such people.
Anything for
free is worth nothing
Have a nice
day
Sam
|
I have felt uncomfortable, as a consumer, praising Michael
Joseph for services already paid for in hundreds of thousands of shillings.
The accolades are heartwarming to read but I still feel this praise is
best given by the govt (for taxes paid and various investments), staff
(for jobs) and suppliers/consultants (for tenders). This is not to show rudeness to a successful CEO but to
recognise that the richest company in Kenya may be riding on our backs. Here
is an example from my Safaricom internet line. I received an exciting message
a while back clearly saying I could receive unlimited service for Kshs 1000
for a month. Today, after happily paying for the service (twice), I get a
more nuanced cunning message "unlimited 300MB etc". I have not
applied for the cheap SMS because, unlike some listers here, I dont
understand the deal. The customer care 100 & 200 no.s are impossible to
get through. So...Safaricom gets another shs 7000 (total shs 9000) in a day,
from me, to get longer term 5GB internet. Well...I think Mpesa is great and thank M Joseph and
crew for that. But beyond that, I think it is we
consumers, paying through our teeth, who need to be thanked. regards, Wamuyu
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