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{
"id": 1030567,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1030567/?format=api",
"text_counter": 261,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
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"content": "Why is it that every time when you call someone who has an Airtel line, the line is always busy? You cannot come and fault me for investing so much money in making sure that, first, I have no drop calls and, secondly, my network is stable when you do not want to invest that money. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is quite clear that for you to succeed in this market, you must invest a lot. What I know is that Safaricom policy in terms of marketing is similar to the one of Coca-Cola, which is within arm’s reach. Everywhere you go you see Safaricom. We need to separate two things. One thing I like and I will support entirely, is the point that Sen. Were made asking a very pertinent question that we have asked before. It is the issue of separating the banking services from the telecommunication services. She has raised a pertinent matter that has got to be divorced from the issue of dominance and ensuring that your consumers are getting what you are selling to them. This House should guide. The Committee on Information, Communication and Technology should look deeply into the legislation. It is either we amend the Competition Act, The Information Communication and Technology Act, and Central Bank of Kenya Act, so that we are clear. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we speak right now, innovation should not be punished. Worldwide, this country is renowned for introducing M-Pesa, which is a mobile money transfer services. There are people out in the rural areas, who right now, when somebody falls sick, they just use electronic money transfer. We need to be careful on the kind of policies and rigid legislations that we introduce. I find that Safaricom has fully invested in this market. Any other person who wants to compete must also be ready to invest. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am also aware that there was a time that Safaricom share of the network was reduced. That was so that two companies; Airtel and Telkom, could merge and take up a little share of this country. However, you cannot force a consumer to go ahead and sign up with Airtel or Telkom when their preference is Safaricom. This is a very interesting debate. It almost boils down to the issue of two-thirds gender. It is very difficult to make sure that we achieve it because you cannot force. So long as the system of election in this country is universal suffrage, there is no way you can force an individual to elect a person of the opposite gender as a leader if they do not choose to. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in this case, when we are dealing with the issue of competition and dominance, we must be guided by the law. The Competition Act is clear. It says that it is there to protect individuals. One thing that concerns me is the point raised by Sen. Faki on the issue of the longevity of the bandwidths that are given. If we look at those issues, I would be concerned about buying bundles worth Kshs100 only to use them for 30 seconds. I will also be concerned about the issue of drop calls. We all have equal chances of penetrating the market. When you are born as a child, you have siblings but it is only you sitting in that seat. It is either the angels were in your favor or worked hard to be there. Let us not punish innovation but promote it and encourage other players in the market to catch up. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}