[kictanet] Safaricom repossessing numbers (What the heck!)

Sat Sep 5 10:15:59 EAT 2020

Pole sana Brian,

On this one, many people can relate. I look forward to a solution that will
ensure we get to keep our lines and have to give express authority to have
the same transfered.

Wainaina

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020, 08:21 Twahir Hussein Kassim via kictanet, <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Totally agree with you Maria!
>
> On Fri, Sep 4, 2020, 10:37 PM maria at afrikaict via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> Hi Brian and Listers:
>>
>> That’s odd but understandable. Have had my Safcom for the 20 years I have
>> been Washington DC Diaspora and yes there are times I have been gone for
>> several months fortunately not YEARS at a go!
>>
>> So the secret is just loading enough airtime and doing one small
>> transaction like buying airtime once a month!
>>
>> I did however have a shocking one with my Telkom Kenya line I have used
>> for 18 months 0770722018 just rudely assigned to someone else yet I was
>> MOSTLY in Kenya and used this LINE DAILY as the BETTER MORE AFFORDABLE
>> OPTION!
>>
>> Our Telcos can be RIDICULOUS in “FOLLOWING” set out regulations in a VERY
>> SELECTIVE MANNER!
>>
>> My SAFCOM MY MAISHA MY IDENTITY! I feel for you Ndugu Longwe, That one
>> fight it out hata kama ni KORTINI!
>>
>> My two cents take on the matter!
>>
>> Baraka,
>> Maria
>>
>> On Friday, September 4, 2020, Brian Munyao Longwe via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi folk,
>>>
>>> It's been a long time. I hope you are all well?
>>>
>>> So - mimi niko na issue.
>>>
>>> My Safaricom number 0715964281 has apparently been repossessed and sold
>>> to someone else. The other day I opened up my Safaricom app to send some
>>> m-pesa to my daughter as she transits through Nairobi from Malaysia and
>>> shock on me! It displayed the name as "Beatrice Chelangat"
>>>
>>> As many of you know - I have been "diaspora" for a good number of years
>>> (close to 9) and am currently based in Malawi. I went to the Kenyans in
>>> Malawi Whatsapp group and mentioned the issue and was told that my line is
>>> gone because I failed to top up in over 6 months. (This is very true, I
>>> think the last time I used the line was more than 8 months ago).
>>>
>>> What I find surprising is that this has never been a problem in the
>>> preceding 9+ years that I have been diaspora. My line has many times gone
>>> more than 6,7,8 months without a topup - but always "wakes up" when I load
>>> airtime. And m-pesa has always worked. What gives?
>>>
>>> I am distressed because my m-pesa, my e-Citizen, NTSA, bank accounts and
>>> many other digital assets / identity related items are linked to this
>>> number which I have had for the past 15+ years. My digital identity (and
>>> that of many others in similar predicament) is at risk. How did CA allow
>>> this kind of reappropriation to happen without an extensive process?
>>>
>>> I would expect that at a minimum - after the expiry of a period of
>>> non-use, and several alerts sent to the number Safaricom (or any other
>>> mobile operator) should publish a gazette notice listing numbers (and
>>> associated registered persons) they want to deactivate/repossess and allow
>>> a period (3 months?) for the owners to claim their number. At the end of
>>> this period then admittedly no one should complain.
>>>
>>> Otherwise as far as I am concerned I have just been the victim of a
>>> sim-cloning scam perpetrated by the same company that provides me with the
>>> telecoms service!
>>>
>>> I would like to hear what the thoughts of the many much brighter people
>>> than me on this group are....
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Mblayo
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> ****************************Dr. Mary Ngunyi*
>> *Afrika ICT Strategies Inc.*
>> *Technology Consultant*
>> *US:1-301-642-5345;KE:+254-733-503-110;770722018;722802420*
>> *mariangunyi at gmail.com <mariangunyi at gmail.com> *
>>
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> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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