MPESA Operators in Kisumu Worried of Looming Demise of Their Business

MPESA operators in Kisumu, Migori and Siaya are worried to the core of a looming demise of their source of livelihood.

This comes after the opposition, National Super Alliance (NASA), called on its members to boycott all the products and services offered by the largest telecommunications company both in East and Central Africa, Safaricom Limited.

Through is newly formed resistance movement, National Resistance Movement, (NRM), the opposition had given its members until the end of the week to ‘migrate’ from Safaricom Limited to other service providers.

Kisumu, Siaya and Migori are the three counties that have diehard supporters of the NASA leader Raila Odinga and his call on the boycott is prone to have an effect on the economy of the region.

On Friday, many people in Kisumu rushed to the Safaricom’s competitor, Airtel Kenya, to swap their sim cards. The same was witnessed in Migori and Siaya.

“Today we registered more people than ever before,” said a lady working at Airtel in Kisumu in an interview with one of the local television.

The opposition has accused Safaricom in aiding for what it termed as a “flawed” general election that took place on the 8th of August.

“Baba has spoken. We follow what baba has said. When baba says boycott and resist, you have to obey,” said one in Nyalenda, Kisumu.

MPESA is one of the highest employer in Kenya. The platform has given jobs to thousands of Kenyan youth. The platform has also been praised within and without Kenya for helping in financial inclusion and, in the process aiding in the alleviation of poverty among the most vulnerable in society.

“We can’t just dismiss NRM and say that their call has no effect. Most folks in this region worship Raila Odinga and when he tells them to boycott certain products, be sure they will. I can assure, most of them will not use MPESA,” said one MPESA operator who did not want to be mentioned.

The opposition also called on its supporters to boycott products from the manufacturer Bidco and the milk producer Brookside. The opposition’s move has, however, been condemned by various stakeholders who have accused them of intending to sabotage the economy.

This came a week after KEPSA announced that the economy had lost a total of 1.4 trillion shillings with the private sector losing 0.7 trillion shillings in a period of four months.