Kenyans Used 131 Million Bonga Points To Purchase Goods

New data has revealed that Kenyans Redeemed up to 131 million Bonga points to purchase essential goods in just three weeks since Safaricom initiated the program.

According to the latest data, Kenyans have been using the Bonga for goods to buy household and other essential goods, a clear indication that the initiative has come in handy to rescue people during the Covid-19 crisis.

In just a day, an estimated number of 10,500 people redeem the Bonga points to buy food which translates to a total of 26 million.

60 percent of the Bonga points for goods purchases occurred in supermarkets using tills where most household essentials, including food items are found.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the program has been a success in cushioning Kenyans during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as giving a chance for those who have more to donate to the needy.

“This initiative is to empower Kenyans to use the savings they have been making by using Safaricom products over the years to meet their needs to pay for their essentials or donate to the most vulnerable in the society,” CEO Ndegwa said.

The initiative that was launched on April 3, 2020, involved converting of Bonga points to cash where one point represents 30 cents.

Even though the Bonga point’s service has been in existence, customers were only allowed to redeem the points to purchase airtime, bundles, and mobile devices until the new program was launched this month.

The telco revealed that up to 14.7 billion Bonga points are held by their customers, with 84 percent being held by high-value customers and 67 percent by regular customers.

As high-income earners are likely to have more Bonga points, Safaricom urged them to donate some of their points to the vulnerable people who are likely to face hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the Bonga points for goods initiative have also revealed that most Kenyans are currently struggling to make ends meet and they would seek any available avenue to ensure they have cash.