Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has appealed to Safaricom to give immediate family members of deceased customers first priority in retaining their SIM cards.
The MCA has also asked the telco to consider prolonging the period within which the service provider can change ownership of the SIM cards upon the holder's demise.
"Hey Safaricom, it’s not fair to immediately hand over lines of our deceased loved ones just a few months after their demise. Please be fair to families and offer them a chance to own the lines first," Alai said in a tweet.
He called Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa's attention to the statement.
They gave out my brothers number to someone about 5months after his demise, I was shocked when my kid mistakenly dialed the number and someone said "Hello unafta nani"
— Arap Chebarua (@Arapdocta) October 26, 2022
Network providers have all the legal mandate to recall unutilised SIM cards after a period of 60 days.
This means customers who fail to use their lines, whether dead or alive, cease ownership of their SIM cards after 60 days.
Alai's plea coincided with the launch of a new service by Safaricom which enables customers to keep their SIM cards active for up to two years with a single top-up of airtime.
CEO Ndegwa said the Daima seeks to address the challenge of inactive SIM cards for customers who may be travelling or living abroad for long periods, are away at school or police and army training.
The service will also be of help to those who have a change of ownership of the SIM card situation due to the loss of a loved one.
It will cost Sh200 to keep the SIM cards active for six months, Sh500 for one year and Sh1,000 for two years.
