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

Mon Sep 7 14:12:30 EAT 2020

This is clearly a (big) problem.

I sincerely hope that folk at MOICT and CA are following this discussion.
This is squarely a policy/regulatory issue. SAfaricom is not going to
"help" anyone of their own volition.

Mblayo

On Mon, Sep 7, 2020 at 11:24 AM Eric Mugendi via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Interesting subject. I bought a line recently, and I now get reminder
> texts from Dlight that are meant for someone named Jane Kosgei reminding
> her to make daily payments. The line was also used to take a loan on
> Branch, who are also sending reminders that this needs to be paid. It was
> used to set up a Facebook account, and Lord knows which other accounts I am
> yet to discover.
> As far as I'm concerned, I bought a new line, and it's not my job to reach
> out to these people and ask them to remove my number. I've tried with
> Dlight, but they still send texts every day. The service provider should
> alert you when you buy a new line showing which services it is subscribed
> to, or is this too much to ask?
>
>
> Eric Mugendi
> about.me/mugendi
> [image: Eric Mugendi on about.me]
>   <http://about.me/mugendi>
>
>
> On Mon, 7 Sep 2020 at 11:11, simiyu mse via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> I remember losing a number that way before mpesa became a thing. The
>> inconvenience was simple, notifying people of your change in number, losing
>> a few deals and life resumed. Not so much anymore with mpesa, ecitizen,
>> KRA, and many other 2FA services being linked to this number.
>>
>> I believe with Mpesa effectively acting as a bank account for people now,
>> the current quiet 6 month countdown is not very ergonomic. With people
>> using other providers as primary and keeping the safaricom line as
>> secondary/mpesa/ecitizen etc, it is time Safaricom introduced notification
>> methods on this pending loss of line. I mean we get birthday texts, it is
>> not any more difficult to implement.
>>
>> Either by sending emails a month to expiry, texts to your primary line
>> (the saf one in this case) and/or a secondary line. Even option for next of
>> kin. This gives one an option to salvage the issue before it turns quite
>> tumultuous. With our numbers being our identity in very many services.
>>
>> I remember Big Green was handing over KSh. 500m of unclaimed assets to
>> UFAA a short while ago, so there is alot done right, this just needs mild
>> sanding.
>>
>> Regards.
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 5, 2020, 1:30 PM Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> 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> *
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This message contains privileged information protected under
>>>>>> INTERNATIONAL privacy and security laws.  If you receive this message by
>>>>>> error do not circulate it, it is an infringement on Afrika ICT Strategies
>>>>>> Inc., and the writer's personal privacy and data protection rights.
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>>>>>>
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>> 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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> 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.
>
> 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
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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