THE Competition Authority of Kenya has ordered Safaricom to be transparent its Lipa Na M-Pesa billing system.
CAK yesterday instructed the mobile network operator to undertake a 14 day prime time campaignin electronic and print media to sensitise consumers on costs of using the mobile payment service.
CAK said Safaricom should make its customers aware that settling bills through the service at petrol stations currently attracts a 0.5 per cent charge on the transaction value.
Customers should also be made aware that applicable charges on the service can be accessed through the *234# USSD code.
It further requires Safaricom to disseminate point of sale stickers to all merchant outlets and fuel stations employing the Lipa Na M-Pesa service highlighting the 0.5 per cent or any other applicable charge.
“The exercise of disseminating the fuel tent cards should be finalized by 31st August, 2015 and for POS in the merchant outlets/shops by 30th September, 2015,” reads the statement signed by CAK director general Wang’ombe Kariuki.
He said CAK received a complainant on January 23 on the non-disclosure of Safaricom's Lipa Na M-Pesa charges payable by consumers for use of its service in petrol stations and merchant shops countrywide.
Kariuki said the orders follow investigations in line with its consumer protection mandate and the law.
“In future, educate consumers by changing point of sale materials to reflect any new charges that will be introduced by Lipa na M-Pesa merchants, who are currently not charging for the service,” he said.
