Many times Kenyans are their own worst enemies. Most of us are enemies of progress. The controversy between Safaricom and Equity Bank over the latter’s plan to introduce thin SIM card to launch its money transfer service is a case in point. We have seen all manner of opposition. Understandably, Safaricom sees Equity as a threat to its M-Pesa business. But for others like MPs, something else is clearly at stake.
I am no techie to know technical threats the thin SIM poses to M-Pesa accounts, nor a player in this money market to feel threatened, but I know competition is good as a consumer. Best practice is a must while unfair competition should be neutered at the earliest opportunity. What we haven’t heard are convincing reasons from either Safaricom or MPs on why they would want to stop the rollout of Equity’s thin SIM. Yes, there could be some issues here and there, given that it is a technology that will ride on an independent mobile network.
That’s why, I believe, there are pilot phases before the full rollout to test and certify the system. Without trying it out we may never know the potential benefits or threats that this technology brings. That’s how we lose it. We oppose new things because of selfish reasons and deny the entire economy from benefiting from it. It is happening in the coal industry, where controversy is heated on award of tenders. Coast area would be having a new sugar factory in TARDA area were it not for opposition from certain quarters. Busia County doesn’t have a sugar factory, thanks to cheap politics and selfish interests.
Check around all counties and you will find projects that failed to take off not because they did not make economic sense, but some people were miffed for one reason or another and decided to erect bumps in their way. Not to mention the class one laptop project, which is back to ground zero. We have become a highly litigious country. Anything, big or small, raises doubts and then takes a legal angle. This is what has slowed down development.
Sad thing is, it’s not the opponents of these projects who suffer, but the masses targeted as beneficiaries. It’s within everyone’s right to complain about an injustice. Or perhaps about threats to the public good or country’s security. But it is ludicrous for men and women to strategise themselves to oppose projects and developments so their silence or support can be bought. MPs are culprits in this, taking advantage of their power to summon and grill.
They were at it with the standard gauge railway and Safaricom security tender. Such a combative trend scares away potential investors. Our MPs and activists know this. But do they care?
The writer is the managing editor of businesstoday.co.ke. Email: [email protected]
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