MARATHON WILD ENDURANCE M-PESA Changing Lives
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SeptemberSeptember - NovemberNovember 20092009 WIN a beach holiday for two SAFARICOM MARATHON WILD ENDURANCE M-PESA changing lives THIS MONTH SeptemberSeptembetbr --N Novemberovember 2009 WIN a beach holiday for two SAFARICOM MARATHON WILD ENDURANCE Inside 2 Message from Michael M-PESA changing lives 4 What’s news? 6 Matchless marathon WIN a MANAGING EDITOR: Chris Muthama 12 Passion for youth holiday 23 EDITOR: Maryann Michuki CONTRIBUTORS: Craig Bishop, John Kabubu, for two! Kimani Kamakiru, Chebet Karago, 14 Uplifting Kenyans Candice Miranda PHOTOGRAPHY: Craig Bishop, 17 High value trees Gina Din Corporate Communications, Charlie Grieves-Cook, Alex Kamweru, 18 Camphone seduction Chebet Karago, Candice Miranda, Neil Thomas, Duncan Willetts 20 Lions of Lewa PUBLISHERS: East African Magazines Ltd, Nairobi PRINTING: Colourprint, Nairobi 23 Feeling lucky? ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: The Option Magazine 24 Techno teasers Safaricom Limited P.O. Box 46350- 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 26 Are cellphones risky? [email protected] www.safaricom.co.ke 28 Mobile manners To advertise in The Option Magazine, contact: Helen Kiarie Tel: 020 605991/2 29 Meet Torome Tirike [email protected] 30 Dial 24/7 Techno 34 Going global The editorial content and individual opinions expressed bytes herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Ltd. Neither 35 Always in touch Safaricom nor the Publishers accept any responsibility for the content. All rights reserved. No part of this work 36 What’s hot! may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by 24 any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from Safaricom. 40 Safaricom shops Ed’s letter It’s amazing how time flies: it is 10 years since the first Safaricom Marathon in Lewa. This race embodies what a corporation can achieve with vision, commitment and perseverance. Ten years ago, the name ‘Lewa’ triggered images of a staggering patron (lewa means ‘to get drunk’ in Swahili), but now the name is synonymous with a unique and world-renowned athletic event that benefits the communities and environment around Lewa. In this edition you will catch a glimpse of the action at the marathon’s 10th anniversary (page 6). Discover what motivates some of the participants in this race, one of the toughest in the world, and hopefully this will inspire you to be part of it next year or even start your own. One of my favourites, Technology to tantalise (page 24), will surely leave you enticed – I always wonder what goes on in the minds of those who come up with such gizmos. They either have too much time or are simply geniuses! Finally, as the adage has it, ‘It is easier to become No.1 than to stay there’. Read all about M-PESA’s latest advances that will consolidate its status as a world first in meeting the evolving needs of Kenyans, while becoming a real threat to hard cash (page 14). Talk about Kenya’s contribution to a cashless society! Enjoy! Chris Muthama, Managing Editor FROM THE TOP Message from Michael PHOTOGRAPH: DUNCAN WILLETTS he current phase in Kenya’s telecoms market we have put the necessary structures in place to is being defined by the accent on data achieve unmatched data proposition. T services. We are seeing a lot of animation I am currently the Chair of Teams (The East Africa and talk on this front, but only Safaricom with its Marine Systems) cable. We have a 20% anchor countrywide network can really provide broadband stake in the undersea cable venture, which is a high-speed data to its customers. key part of this arsenal. This investment, which will Our growing list of individual, small business, give us ownership of a corresponding portion of SOHO (small office and home) and corporate the “pipe”, is our answer to the nagging problem of customers can attest to the fact that we have the expensive and unreliable international connectivity, best data speeds of any provider in this market. which has always been the bane of Kenya’s quest We have reached this position by design, and are for better data services. The cable is at the testing continuously improving our services to stay ahead stage and should start operations this quarter. of the pack. Recently, we entered into a strategic relationship Today, our make-up as a total telecoms company with Jamii Telecoms Limited (JTL), which gives us is complete. We have the most versatile data exclusive use of its fibre optic cable network. JTL platform in this country backed by peerless has put together a 1000km-long, fast-growing customer service. Our data suite, which is a total metro fibre network in Nairobi and Mombasa. end-to-end offering for all users, is able to offer a This deal gives our data suite terrestrial “last mile” hybrid of last-mile connectivity solutions tailored to access to subscribers, affording them a seamless meet the needs of our customers. path to any home or office in key cities. We are the only telecoms company in Kenya Last year’s acquisition of a majority stake in today that can offer broadband services on the One Com affords us something no one else has: country’s widest 3G network, Wimax and fibre. versatility. Besides assembling robust 3G and fibre Whether mobile or fixed, we have the tools and optic backbones, this strategic investment has infrastructure to deliver data, voice and video all given Safaricom the breadth to offer data services over Kenya. from a Wimax platform for subscribers whose Building cable and digging up the earth is not needs are best served in this way. our core business, but through strategic alliances Safaricom is truly the one-stop shop for all your and a deliberate strategy of targeted acquisitions, data needs. Niko na Safaricom, The Better Option. Michael Joseph Chief Executive Officer 2 September-November 2009 The Option Back to the future From techno gadgets to future leaders of the country, Safaricom continues to be a one-stop shop for integrated and converged data and voice communication Left: The grand prize of the TECHNOLOGY GALORE recently concluded ‘Activate your Safaricom’s open day on Safaricom staff were, of in the exciting “Activate your Drive’ promotion; Above and below: Safaricom staff assist 4 and 5 July enabled visitors course, “Happy to Help” Drive” promotion. visitors with their queries. to experience the wide range customers with all manner Safaricom has a passion of the company’s products. of queries, educating them for customers and always The open day, held at all about Safaricom’s products strives to serve customers Safaricom retail centres and services. in an efficient, timely and countrywide, allowed Also of note was the professional manner; while customers to try out live Safaricom data products also making the effort to handsets, modems and promotion; just by buying a understand customer needs laptops, enabling them broadband modem, visitors in order to provide the to make more informed stood a chance of winning a highest possible standards purchasing decisions. Mercedes-Benz C 180 of service. Teaching our young women Safaricom believes in improving education standards and enabling bright, deserving students to realise their dreams. Education is paramount if economic development is to be achieved. The Zawadi Africa Education Fund is a programme designed to provide scholarships to academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in Africa to pursue higher education in the United States. The Zawadi Africa Education Fund has delivered an excellent return in its first few years. To date, there are55 students enrolled at top universities in the United States, including Yale University, Xavier University and Smith College. The students in the programme have an average GPA of 3.70. Safaricom has partnered with Zawadi Africa to enable the Founder of Zawadi Africa, Dr Susan Mboya (middle) with young women to pursue higher education, giving them a some of the beneficiaries of the education fund. chance to make a difference in society once they graduate. PHOTOGRAPHS: GINA DIN CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS 4 September-November 2009 The Option ON THE WIRE NIKO NA SAFARICOM Safaricom has launched a brand new campaign coined “Niko na Safaricom”. With this campaign, Safaricom celebrates its authentic Kenyan heritage and Connect, affirms to its 13 million customers that it has and will always be there forthem; it is a way of saying thank you. imagine, Visuals for the campaign use landscapes and scenery from all parts of the country including Western, Nyanza, Central, Coast, Highlands and Rift Valley, discover to show that the firm’s subscribers, products and services are present all over Safaricom continues to the country and can be enjoyed by all. be at the cutting edge of The migration from the previous “The Better Option” thematic campaign innovation and change, crafted to the new “Niko na Safaricom” platform indicates a departure from mere specifically to address all product attributes and superiority of choice to the affirmation of a deeper, your communication needs. more emotional connection with the customer. The use of Swahili in the new At Safaricom, we offer a slogan works as a closer connection with local communities and reinforces variety of affordable means to the understanding between Safaricom and Kenyans. access the internet through The adverts, messages and signage that make up the campaign will be mobile internet, broadband channelled through all modem and 3G router. If you available media: TV, radio, can imagine it, you will find it. retail units, press, billboards Whether you want to bone up and website. on the hottest destinations, the The campaign is a sequel tastiest cuisine or the latest to previous memorable sports news, all you need to do advertisements aired by is get connected to the fastest the firm over the years and internet service available in underlines Safaricom as a Kenya, through your phone truly Kenyan brand which or Safaricom’s broadband has integrated with Kenyans modem, powered by 3G.