Kenyan telecommunication giant Safaricom has laid down a plan to foster savings among juniors by introducing SIM cards for the group.
Speaking during the release of the telco’s half-year result ending September 30 2022, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Ndegwa said the move will help minors make calls, text and save money on their phones.
However, he stated that the lines will be registered under the juniors’ parents, after which the registration will switch to the former once they hit majority age.
“Going forward, the junior will be able to have their own number but under the parent account and that will convert to the junior automatically when they turn 18 rather than having that problematic element that used to happen before,”
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In addition to the ability to save, the lines will also have restricted access, such that children cannot engage in gambling, with the parents being able to monitor phone usage among their children.
“We have simplified the menu that the junior account will have so that they are not able to access certain services like betting,” said Ndegwa.
“The parent should be able to monitor what the child is able to do,”
The CEO further commended the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) for allowing the firm to proceed with the initiative, saying that it will give more autonomy to parents over their children.
“So that has received very strong support from the regulator because it is about parental control of what juniors do rather than using an adult account,”
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