Are you ready for competition in Kenya? I am

 

In Summary

Possibly the two most irritating monopolies in our country are telecoms and electricity suppliers.
I am now wishing upon a star that someone with better planning and a little more common sense will introduce a new telecom company, which I will promptly migrate to.

By Abigail Arunga
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I am ready for some competition.

Possibly the two most irritating monopolies in our country are telecoms and electricity suppliers.

I have two mobile phone lines. I ditched my Safaricom after deep dissatisfaction but Airtel proved to be equally appalling, so I returned. Better the devil you know.

Even the simplest things seem to be difficult.

Airtel has this thing called Club20. When you subscribe, they give you 100MB and 20 free texts daily.

If you are a regular user of Twitter and Facebook, you know that even if you are on your phone consistently (which is not as easy as it sounds) with Instagram and Tumblr and all that fun stuff, you will use maybe 20MB.

I only use my Airtel line for Facebook and Twitter - not even WhatsApp, barely YouTube at all.

And yet, Airtel claims I use all 100MB.

A friend on Airtel uses the 600MB bundle in 3 weeks, because she is on Tumblr and YouTube a lot. I, apparently, must use on Twitter alone what she uses in three weeks.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

I called Airtel to complain. The lady gave me a number. A day later, they called me and said that indeed, I had used 100 MB that day.

That was not what I had called to complain about. I had called to say that there was no way I could have and they must have been adding wrong.

They gave me another number.

A day later, I was told that yes, indeed, their arithmetic was right. Regardless of the fact that there is internet at work (so I barely use my phone) and have no WhatsApp.

I am now wishing upon a star that someone with better planning and a little more common sense will introduce a new telecom company, which I will promptly migrate to.

A LACK OF COMPETITION

You see, the problem here is a lack of competition.

Safaricom and Airtel know you’re not going anywhere. There’s nowhere else to go! So whether they hear your complaints or give you back your money, it makes no difference – you have no choice.

At least Safaricom has sweetened the poison with Mpesa. Airtel Money is appealing only to those who enjoy hardship and trekking through town to find a functioning Airtel Money.