Mwezi Machi 2014 yatakuwa ni maadhimisho ya miaka saba tangu M-Pesa [1], huduma ya kufanya miamala ya kifedha kwa njia ya simu na huduma ndogo za kibenki, ilipoanzishwa Kenya na kampuni ya simu za mkononi iitwayo Safaricom. M-Pesa inafanya kazi kama benki; watumiaji wa huduma hiyo huhifadhi fedha kwenye simu zao na kutoa fedha kupitia wakala au duka la Safaricom kwa kuonyesha kitambulisho na namba ya simu.
Safaricom ilikuwa kampuni ya kwanza nchini Kenya kutoa huduma ya miamala ya kibenki. Inabaki kuwa kampuni iliyotawala biashara hiyo hata leo, wakati kukiwa na makapuni kama Airtel, Orange na Yu ambayo pia yanatoa huduma kama hiyo. Katika kusherehekea miaka saba ya huduma hiyo, Safaricom iliwahamasisha wa-Kenya kwenye mtandao wa Twita kutumia alama habari ya #BeforeMPESA [2] [Kabla ya MPESA] kueleza namna huduma hiyo ilivyobadili maisha.
Hapa unaweza kusoma maoni yaliyojitokeza mara nyingi:
1. M-Pesa imewapa Wakenya mbadala wa kutunza fedha zao kwa usalama:
hehehehe… #BeforeMPESA [2] pic.twitter.com/EMXoftfv4q [3]
— Tha Comp Guy (@mavinochi) March 14, 2014 [4]
Kabla ya Mpesa
Hehe RT @JudieOj [5]: Lol #BeforeMPESA [2] how people used to save their money safely pic.twitter.com/F9F5RlsB4v [6]
— Wiljem (@I_William_M) March 14, 2014 [7]
Kabla ya Mpesa: Namna watu walivyokuwa wakitunza fedha zao kwa usalama
2. Kenyans can now pay for almost anything through M-Pesa, even church offerings [sadaka] and electricity bills:
#7YearsOfMPESA [8] I can comfortably pay sadaka [church offering] at the comfort of my living room, without going to church @SafaricomLtd [9] pic.twitter.com/vXYnKOu5og [10]
— anto Fazul (@antomorientes) March 10, 2014 [11]
Ninaweza kulipa sadaka kwa urahisi nikiwa sebuleni kwangu, bila kulazimika kwenye kanisani
@SafaricomLtd [9] #BeforeMpesa [12] this is how i used to travel to the bank to pay my electricity bill pic.twitter.com/M7pJzG1haD [13]
— Iain Felipe (@iainfelipe) March 14, 2014 [14]
Hivi ndivyo nilivyokuwa nilisafiri kwenda benki kulipa bili yangu ya umeme
@SafaricomLtd [9] #7YearsOfMPESA [8] To cut story short all this services have made my life easier for since i joined mpesa pic.twitter.com/W839rsMdP2 [15]
— Damianos Tum (@damtumy) March 7, 2014 [16]
Kufupisha masimulizi huduma hii imefanya maisha yangu kuwa rahisi tangu nijiunge na Mpesa
#7yearsofMPESA [17] went hiking, ran out of fuel…..had to walk 4 a mile to buy fuel with lipa na mpesa [pay with M-Pesa] pic.twitter.com/9umqDACC28 [18]
— Jo G….° (@Kidd254) March 14, 2014 [19]
Ukitoka kuzunguka, ukaishiwa na mafuta….unatembea mwendo mfupi tu unalipa na Mpesa
#beforeMPESA [20] After eating with your girl then remembering you left your wallet at home pic.twitter.com/metmh0jdrb [21]
— Dan Pius Kioko (@Vigour_Mortis) March 14, 2014 [22]
Baada ya kupata chakula na rafiki yako wa kike na kisha unakumbuka uliacha pochi yako nyumbani
#BeforeMPESA [2] Payment of dowry has been hectic…after Mpesa it's now easier @SafaricomLtd [9] pic.twitter.com/FwUE0Dx2u5 [23]
— Cleo (@cleophas65) March 14, 2014 [24]
Malipo ya mahari ilikuwa kazi…baada ya Mpesa sasa ni rahisi
@SafaricomLtd [9] #BeforeMPESA [2] some people collapsed in Long queues in banks during school opening days just waiting pic.twitter.com/6WSDtt5Uhk [25]
— Christine Mak (@ChristineMak1) March 14, 2014 [26]
Baadhi ya watu walizimia kwenye mistari mirefu benki wakati wa kufungua shule kwa sababu ya kuchoka kusubiri
how i used to wait for money to be sent to me thro postapay [payment using post service] #beforeMPESA [20] pic.twitter.com/cPzCfKprJR [27]
— Mhusika Mkuu!!! (@DaRilVeemood) March 14, 2014 [28]
Namna nilivyokuwa nikisubiri kutumiwa hawala ya fedha kwa njia ya posta
#beforempesa [29] and after #7YearsOfMPESA [8] pic.twitter.com/tfYy7fErVD [30]
— Dr Stockmann Ke (@stokmano) March 14, 2014 [31]
Kabla ya Mpesa na baada ya miaka saba ya Mpesa
3. M-Pesa inaweza kupatikana kwa simu yoyote:
#7YearsOfMPESA [8] but phone ni ya 20yrspic.twitter.com/o1Phyn8GfQ [32]
— Justin kibiwott (@kebiwot) March 7, 2014 [33]
@kebiwot [34] Miaka saba ya MPESA lakini simu zina miaka 20
Bado, si kila mmoja anaifurahia M-Pesa
Baadhi ya Wakenya walitumia maadhimisho hayo kuonyesha hasira zao kwa M-Pesa na kuwakosoa wale wanaoisifia huduma hiyo:
with all these Mpesa tales #7YearsOfMPESA [8] pic.twitter.com/86W067TcLb [35]
— GEOFFREY SIRUMBA (@geoffsirumba) March 10, 2014 [36]
Na hadithi hizi za kusadikika za MPESA
how safaricom calls you just to finish you…… #7YearsOfMPESA [8] pic.twitter.com/MKTUv61fpe [37]
— OJ |:|Oquemba™|:| OJ (@JimmiASSo) March 7, 2014 [38]
Namna Safaricom wanavyokuita kuja kukumaliza….
Samuel Gikuru alikuwa na wasiwasi na nia ya Safaricom [39] na hata akaituhumu kampuni hiyo kuiba wazo la Mkenya alibuni huduma hiyo:
Hivi ni mimi pekeyangu au na mwingine amegundua kuwa Safaricom inafanya kila inachoweza kwa makusudi mazima kuua Vipaji vya kiteknolojia vinavyoibukia Kenya? Kuna hadithi inasimulia namna Mkenya alivyoibiwa wazo lake lenye thamani ya dola bilioni moja ambalo leo ndio limekuwa M-Psa. Kijana huyo mwenye akili inasemekana aliwaendea wakubwa wa Safaricom na wakamkatalia kuwa wazo lake lisingetekelezeka na ajabu miezi kadhaa baadae wakazindua huduma hiyo. Hiyo ndiyo hadithi iliyo kwenye midomo ya Wakenya wote. Hata hivyo, kitabu kipya kinadai kuwa mwajiriwa mwandamizi wa Vodafone ndiye aliyebuni M-Pesa mwaka 2003. Wakenya ni kama hawafaidiki na ubunifu wa M-Pesa ambao ndio unaiweka Kenya kwenye ramani ya dunia kama kituo cha ubunifu.
….Ukiwa na MPESA, faragha yako hailindiw. Kwa kutumia hela kidogo mpaka hata shilingi 10, mtu yeyote anaweza kukutambu kama mmiliki wa lini ya simu, kama namba yako imesajiliwa kwa huduma hiyo, kirahisi tu. Kama vile haitoshi watekaji wanaweza kutumia husuma hii kudai fedha. Ili kuhakikisha kuwa hawakamatwi au kuingia mtegoni kirahisi, wanafungua akaunti kwa kutumia kitambulisho bandia ambacho kinaweza kutengenezwa kinyume cha sheria pale kwenye mtaa wa River road Nairobi. Safaricom haifanyi chochote kuhakiki usahihi wa namba za kitambulisho.