The incident, which has garnered considerable attention, brings to light the potential challenges that can arise when using mobile money services and the limitations of reversing transactions when errors occur.
Lameck Leshao's ordeal began when he mistakenly transferred money to an incorrect M-Pesa number. As soon as he realized the error, Lameck contacted Safaricom to request a reversal of the transaction.
Typically, Safaricom's policy allows for the reversal of funds if the recipient has not yet withdrawn or used the money. However, in this case, Lameck was informed that the recipient had already accessed part of the funds, leaving only KSh 30 remaining.
Frustrated by this outcome, Lameck took to social media to express his disappointment. In a comment on Facebook, he lamented that despite Safaricom's capability to reverse funds sent to his account by mistake, the company was unable to fully assist him when he needed to retrieve his own money. His post quickly gained traction, prompting a response from Safaricom.
In their reply, Safaricom acknowledged the issue and apologized for the inconvenience Lameck experienced. The company explained that their ability to reverse transactions is limited once the recipient has used any portion of the money.
They advised Lameck to report the incident to the police, as the situation now required legal intervention due to the partial use of the funds by the unintended recipient.
While these platforms offer immense convenience, they also come with risks, particularly when users input incorrect details during transactions.
Safaricom, aware of these challenges, has emphasized the importance of caution when sending money and recommended that customers use the My Safaricom App for such transactions.
The app provides additional safeguards, such as prompts to confirm the recipient’s details before completing a transaction, which can help minimize the risk of errors.
In another related development, a viral video surfaced online showing a well-known Nairobi figure, Rodgers Oloo Magudha, popularly known as "Birdman," visiting a Safaricom shop to replace his SIM card.
Birdman, who has gained fame for walking around the city with birds perched on his head, was seen in the video performing the routine task of changing his line.
The video, shared on TikTok by a user named Martha Kimondo, quickly spread across social media platforms, leading to widespread speculation that Birdman had signed an advertising deal with Safaricom.
However, Safaricom quickly clarified that Birdman was at their shop solely to replace his SIM card and not to sign any promotional contract. Despite this clarification, many Kenyans on social media urged the company to consider giving Birdman an advertising gig, citing his growing popularity and unique persona.
Safaricom responded to these requests by encouraging the public to explore job opportunities through their career portal.
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