Comments on: SafariCon http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/ Unique - just like everyone else. Manufactured and bottled in Kenya Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Safaricon II - tHiNkEr’S rOoM http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-39485 Safaricon II - tHiNkEr’S rOoM Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:07:03 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-39485 [...] June M05:15 pm1 Comment My opinion of Safaricom is not favorable. I deeply resent giving so much of my money to a company that offers such mediocre service. Their customer care is hapless. It is always a pleasant surprise when their services work as advertised. I’d decamp in an instant but like a bad habit am bound to MJ and his company by a variety of reasons, professional and personal. [...] [...] June M05:15 pm1 Comment My opinion of Safaricom is not favorable. I deeply resent giving so much of my money to a company that offers such mediocre service. Their customer care is hapless. It is always a pleasant surprise when their services work as advertised. I’d decamp in an instant but like a bad habit am bound to MJ and his company by a variety of reasons, professional and personal. [...]

]]> By: Its what Im thinking http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-26169 Its what Im thinking Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:59:19 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-26169 I will not comment about Safaricom's service - your all right it stinks and we are all moving to Celtel. But I differ with you about the initiative to recruit professionals abroad. We are always talking about brain drain in Africa and how that is really sad. For many years there have been many initiatives to RETURN QUALIFIED AFRICANS to take part in developing their countries. International Organisations such as IOM/World Bank even had/have a specific program to support this initiative but they were bringing back the "The Dream Team" sorts for high level government jobs - but these were very expensive for most African goverments . Multinationals in Africa are the next group trying to support the Return of Qualified Africans to reverse brain drain for sometime now. For those of you in the UK, I am sure you have heard of the Careers in Africa recruitment events and I personally know quite a number of Kenyans who have benefitted from this. I know of many young people in the diaspora who would love to come back and work in Kenya but they are a little afraid that they may not get a good job when they come back. Initiatives like that of Safcom and most of the other major multinational players in Kenya recruiting abroad is that they give these Kenyans a chance. Before I sound like Safcom PR na hawanilipi. I just have one little beef with all these companies, they seem to fast track the careers of those who have trained abroad and that I think is plain wrong. Although many reasons may be given for this, better accent, they know how to eat weetabix (I know of a rural gal straight A's student 1st class honours from our local uni's who missed a MT position with a multinational coz she thought Weetabix was a biscuit at a recruitment weekend). Enough said I think I will not comment about Safaricom’s service – your all right it stinks and we are all moving to Celtel.

But I differ with you about the initiative to recruit professionals abroad. We are always talking about brain drain in Africa and how that is really sad. For many years there have been many initiatives to RETURN QUALIFIED AFRICANS to take part in developing their countries. International Organisations such as IOM/World Bank even had/have a specific program to support this initiative but they were bringing back the “The Dream Team” sorts for high level government jobs – but these were very expensive for most African goverments .

Multinationals in Africa are the next group trying to support the Return of Qualified Africans to reverse brain drain for sometime now. For those of you in the UK, I am sure you have heard of the Careers in Africa recruitment events and I personally know quite a number of Kenyans who have benefitted from this. I know of many young people in the diaspora who would love to come back and work in Kenya but they are a little afraid that they may not get a good job when they come back. Initiatives like that of Safcom and most of the other major multinational players in Kenya recruiting abroad is that they give these Kenyans a chance. Before I sound like Safcom PR na hawanilipi. I just have one little beef with all these companies, they seem to fast track the careers of those who have trained abroad and that I think is plain wrong. Although many reasons may be given for this, better accent, they know how to eat weetabix (I know of a rural gal straight A’s student 1st class honours from our local uni’s who missed a MT position with a multinational coz she thought Weetabix was a biscuit at a recruitment weekend).

Enough said I think

]]> By: Proud Nyeuthi http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-26016 Proud Nyeuthi Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:32:58 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-26016 I got that email. Deleted it and moved on. I have to read between the lines in the future. You have given me some food for thought. I got that email. Deleted it and moved on. I have to read between the lines in the future. You have given me some food for thought.

]]> By: Jogoo wa Shamba http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-24653 Jogoo wa Shamba Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:29:14 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-24653 Surprised i havent seen the email.I dont get it,first it was students studying abroad and now its engineers working in UK and US?? May be its time we taught Mr.Joseph and his ilk just who exactly is buttering their bread. I will make it a personal pursuit to rally as many of my buddies to make the big switch to celtel. Surprised i havent seen the email.I dont get it,first it was students studying abroad and now its engineers working in UK and US?? May be its time we taught Mr.Joseph and his ilk just who exactly is buttering their bread.
I will make it a personal pursuit to rally as many of my buddies to make the big switch to celtel.

]]> By: I http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-23523 I Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:19:14 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-23523 M...You know i dont know what made me think they were not serious!! they really are!! Ohh.. see.. this is wrong!! Your right M... Someone/ somepeople do look down on the professionals in Nairobi... I cannot put my disgust in words.. M…You know i dont know what made me think they were not serious!! they really are!!
Ohh.. see.. this is wrong!!

Your right M… Someone/ somepeople do look down on the professionals in Nairobi…
I cannot put my disgust in words..

]]> By: Ichiena http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-23508 Ichiena Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:08:02 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-23508 I saw this and had to read twice. The grammar left me thinking it was a hoax but I've since learnt different. And what irked me the most, is <i>"however, we will meet any other professional Kenyans who are interested in returning home to work.</i>. What? Apparently, they are falling into the trend of some organisations of employing people with specific acquired accents only - someone once argued in support of this that customers of such organisations are more comfortable if spoken to in accents they understand. You cannot argue with such stupidity. As for safcom services - the day i realised i had forgetten their helpline, I switched to the "Orgasm Highway" (LOL!) chap chap. I saw this and had to read twice. The grammar left me thinking it was a hoax but I’ve since learnt different.

And what irked me the most, is “however, we will meet any other professional Kenyans who are interested in returning home to work.. What?

Apparently, they are falling into the trend of some organisations of employing people with specific acquired accents only – someone once argued in support of this that customers of such organisations are more comfortable if spoken to in accents they understand. You cannot argue with such stupidity.

As for safcom services – the day i realised i had forgetten their helpline, I switched to the “Orgasm Highway” (LOL!) chap chap.

]]> By: Qadaffi http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-23411 Qadaffi Wed, 20 Dec 2006 05:29:27 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-23411 FYI, There is already a standing ad on Safcom site under the careers page: "Are you a Kenyan student studying Engineering, Telecommunications and Information Technology abroad? Click on the link below to send us your CV and Contact details". kenyansabroad@safaricom.co.ke" <div class="commentary">I still think it is nonsense to insist on students from abroad. What's wrong with students here?</div> I read NO discrimination in that. And did you really expect them to conduct a world tour to recruit? Ha-ha, not even the 12bn profit can cover every country on the map! And who tells you they do not plan to cover additional countries as well? Seems to me that the vitriol poured out here is based on rash thinking. <div class="commentary">In your rush to comment you probably forgot to read the post. I am not talking about their website or their careers page. I am talking about that ridiculous email that got forwarded globally. There is nothing rash about what I have said. Personally I believe that recruitment email smacks of unprofessionalism. Random query: are you speaking from the viewpoint of a Safaricom employee?</div> <div class="commentary"><strong>Update</strong> Ah yes, your IP appears to resolve somewhere that casts serious doubts as to your objectivity. Care to fill us in on what you know on this matter?</div> FYI,

There is already a standing ad on Safcom site under the careers page:

“Are you a Kenyan student studying Engineering, Telecommunications and Information Technology abroad? Click on the link below to send us your CV and Contact details”.
kenyansabroad@safaricom.co.ke”

I still think it is nonsense to insist on students from abroad. What’s wrong with students here?

I read NO discrimination in that. And did you really expect them to conduct a world tour to recruit? Ha-ha, not even the 12bn profit can cover every country on the map! And who tells you they do not plan to cover additional countries as well? Seems to me that the vitriol poured out here is based on rash thinking.

In your rush to comment you probably forgot to read the post. I am not talking about their website or their careers page. I am talking about that ridiculous email that got forwarded globally. There is nothing rash about what I have said. Personally I believe that recruitment email smacks of unprofessionalism. Random query: are you speaking from the viewpoint of a Safaricom employee?
Update Ah yes, your IP appears to resolve somewhere that casts serious doubts as to your objectivity. Care to fill us in on what you know on this matter?
]]> By: titan http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-23355 titan Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:48:31 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-23355 Before you all go gaga about the new Celtel rates, maybe you should be informed of a KES 2.50 'call set up fee' per call. I'm on safcom's Jambo which is still better than the Celtel 'flatrate' considering the setup fee. <div class="commentary">True, but what about those on the other tariffs?Taifa for instance at 28.50 a minute?Even with the setup fee that's a steep price!</div> Happy holidays. Before you all go gaga about the new Celtel rates, maybe you should be informed of a KES 2.50 ‘call set up fee’ per call.

I’m on safcom’s Jambo which is still better than the Celtel ‘flatrate’ considering the setup fee.

True, but what about those on the other tariffs?Taifa for instance at 28.50 a minute?Even with the setup fee that’s a steep price!

Happy holidays.

]]> By: prousette http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-23305 prousette Tue, 19 Dec 2006 08:18:22 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-23305 I received that mail but did not think much of it either. If I'd have known they were interested in all types of engineers well... :D Safaricon(!) and I parted ways in 2002 when they ruined my Friday evenings with appalling regularity. <div class="commentary">=)) My dear, si you have peculiar ™ habits?</div> I was just looking at the tariffs the other day it costs more calling safaricom to safaricom than celtel to safaricom most of the time. We shall not mention the atrocious standing charge I saw in one of the tariff plans whether you use your line or not! Kwani there is a meter to be taken care of like NCC water ? The best part with celtel is I can make calls to the last available cent. Now I hope celtel will not start misbehaving too. Merry Christmas M and Happy 2007 <div class="commentary">And a merrier one to you too my dear :-x</div> I received that mail but did not think much of it either. If I’d have known they were interested in all types of engineers well… :D

Safaricon(!) and I parted ways in 2002 when they ruined my Friday evenings with appalling regularity.

=)) My dear, si you have peculiar ™ habits?

I was just looking at the tariffs the other day it costs more calling safaricom to safaricom than celtel to safaricom most of the time.
We shall not mention the atrocious standing charge I saw in one of the tariff plans whether you use your line or not! Kwani there is a meter to be taken care of like NCC water ?

The best part with celtel is I can make calls to the last available cent.
Now I hope celtel will not start misbehaving too.

Merry Christmas M and Happy 2007

And a merrier one to you too my dear :-x
]]> By: Chrenyan http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/comment-page-1/#comment-23298 Chrenyan Tue, 19 Dec 2006 07:38:39 +0000 http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/12/safaricon/#comment-23298 Someone was saying Safaricom will be forced to respond to Celtel's attack. Personally, I believe in making them respond by obtaining (a) new Celtel line(s) pronto! I was always amazed at the clarity of Celtel lines when I used to call them. Now that Celtel has realised that what is important is bulk, and not elitism, they are making good moves. I am voting with my feet, personally. 16 bob a minute to any network all day any day sounds good to me - sembuse 12 bob off-peak. <div class="commentary">In fact Celtel might just bite the bullet and do a Rockefeller and keep their tarrifs precisely half those of Safaricom. That will sure make things hum!!</div> Let the price wars begin. Someone was saying Safaricom will be forced to respond to Celtel’s attack. Personally, I believe in making them respond by obtaining (a) new Celtel line(s) pronto! I was always amazed at the clarity of Celtel lines when I used to call them. Now that Celtel has realised that what is important is bulk, and not elitism, they are making good moves. I am voting with my feet, personally. 16 bob a minute to any network all day any day sounds good to me – sembuse 12 bob off-peak.

In fact Celtel might just bite the bullet and do a Rockefeller and keep their tarrifs precisely half those of Safaricom. That will sure make things hum!!

Let the price wars begin.

]]>