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

Sat Sep 5 13:30:15 EAT 2020

Listers,

I think it might be good to give a right to reply to Safaricom on this
issue, not sure if Steve is still on the list or if this issue has been
brought to his attention. I personally would like to be educated on the
current state of affairs.Many folks are buying simcards for frivolous
reasons and throwing them away, i guess it is a tough balance for the
Telcos and

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020, 10:16 am Wainaina Mungai via kictanet, <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> 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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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> 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
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
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