Visa Hitch and Fear of European Winter Does It for Ksh25 Million Winner in Masoko Na Safaricom Consumer Promo

Nairobi, December 6, 2010...A 21-year old Kenyan Hotel Management student at a Romanian University forced to return home earlier in the year to renew his visa, is the lucky winner for the grand prize in the just concluded Masonko na Safaricom consumer promotion.

Jonathan Okello, the first born in a family of two, found himself back in the sprawling Kawangware slums in March this year. He had been kicked out of Romania after his papers expired.

"They refused to renew my visa and told me that I have to return to my home country to do it," Mr Okello says.

On his return to Kenya, the Embassy of Romania declined to renew his visa thus delaying his return. And as fate would lead him, he delayed reapplying to avoid the ravages of the European winter which peaks in December.

Distressed, his mother, whom he describes as religious, consoled him by telling him that there must be a reason why that had to happen. She was right.

He is now the lucky winner of Ksh25 million after being picked from over 16 million subscribers who were participating in Masonko na Safaricom consumer promotion.

Safaricom launched Kenya's biggest consumer promotion in September 24, 2010 as part of its 10th year anniversary celebrations to reward its over 16 million subscribers countrywide.

When asked how his family would react to his win, he could only muster 12 key words. "From what we have gone through, I know they will be happy."

Mr Okello's mother comes from an extended family of 11 and he has a surprise in store for all. His first big spend will to host all during this year Christmas celebrations. Although they have been having such celebrations every year, this year was meant to be different with no such party. It will be back to normal as is his pursuit of education.

"I have to complete my studies because that is what is important to me. I could either go back to Romania or get another good school, but I have to go back to class."

Safaricom PostPay customers to pay bills via PesaPoint ATMs

Countrywide ATM network is the latest bill payment option as telecoms operator seeks more convenience for its growing top-end subscriber base

Nairobi, December 8, 2010…Kenya's leading telecoms operator Safaricom's PostPay customers can now pay their monthly bills through the PesaPoint ATM network thanks to a partnership signed between the two organizations.

The 24-hour ATM service will bring about enhanced convenience as it will greatly ease bill payment for Safaricom's over 140,000 PostPay customers through the more than 110 PesaPoint ATM outlets across the country.

To be eligible for this service, Safaricom PostPay customers will be required to be account-holders with any of the banks hooked onto the PesaPoint network.

Speaking during the launch of the service at Safaricom Headquarters, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said the company would continue to seek partnerships that bring value to the lives of Safaricom subscribers.

"Convenience is a major component of our PostPay proposition. Through this partnership with PesaPoint, we are harnessing existing infrastructure to give our PostPay customers, wherever they are in Kenya, an additional avenue for paying their bills. We hope this will bring more convenience to their lives and free up capacity on existing bill payment options," said Mr Collymore.

Currently, Safaricom PostPay customers have the option of making their bill payments at Safaricom Shops or through the M-PESA money transfer service. The deal deepens an existing relationship with PesaPoint, which allows Safaricom subscribers to withdraw M-PESA through the latter's nationwide ATM network and buy Safaricom prepaid airtime.

In addition, Bernard Matthewman, CEO of PesaPoint said: "PesaPoint is delighted to extend its partnership with Safaricom by providing a payment option to Safaricom PostPay customers. The uniqueness of the PesaPoint option is that it is available on a 24-hour basis, thus providing flexibility and convenience to the customers."

The service will not attract charges from Safaricom and PesaPoint. It will however be subject to withdrawal charges designated by individual partner banks.

About PesaPoint

PesaPoint is a third party ATM (Automated Teller Machine) network in Kenya with locations in 46 towns and more than 110 sites, with the goal of extending the reach of financial services by providing Kenyans access to transactional infrastructure in urban, peri-urban and most importantly rural areas. PesaPoint forms part of the Paynet Group which provides a wide range of transactional services through its operations in East Africa.

For more details please go to: www.pesapoint.co.ke

About Safaricom

Formed at the turn of the decade following the liberalization of Kenya's telecoms sector as a joint venture between global leader Vodafone of the UK and the government of Kenya, Safaricom, which celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year, has firmly established its credentials as a regional leader, spawning a virtual telecoms revolution in Kenya.

Growing from its cradle in mobile voice services, Safaricom has evolved into a total telecoms company. The firm, which has a subscriber base of over 16 million, offers all telecoms services under one roof: mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms: Kenya's widest and only 3G network; a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. Safaricom also pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world.

How to Pay Your Safaricom PostPay Bill at a PesaPoint ATM

Step 1: Put ATM card into the card reader slot and remove gently.
Step 2: Select language.
Step 3: Key in bank PIN.
Step 4: Select "Donate/Pay a Bill" button to proceed to the next screen.
Step 5: Select the Safaricom button
Step 6: Key in the mobile phone number of the bill you wish to pay.
Step 7: Enter the amount you wish to pay for your bill.
Step 8: The ATM provides a customer receipt acknowledging the payment.
Step 9: Review the receipt to confirm account number and payment amount.
Step10: Customer gets an SMS certifying funds receipt by Safaricom.