Kenyan Villagers, Corruption and Cell phones

Masai Villager

I noticed something very interesting on the taxi ride back to the airport from my recent Smile Train mission to Nairobi.  A local traffic officer stopped a van in front of us at a red light.  My driver informed us that corruption is rampant in Kenya and the officer was asking for a bribe.  I know that this common in many countries but what transpired was very strange.  Before the light turned green, both the driver and the officer took out their cell phones and with a few keystrokes the deed was done.    I learned that many Kenyans keep their money and do their banking with their cell phone providers and not the bank.  It is much safer and very convenient.  Their salaries are deposited directly and they pay their bills by cell.  Our driver told us that in the past, in order for him to give his father any money, he had to drive three to four hours to the village.  He can now do it via cell phone, saving him the trip and allowing his father immediate access to the money in case of emergency.  There are small kiosks in most villages with representatives that can make the exchange.  By the way, his father is 91 years old.  I’m sure that we will soon see that technology here and there will be an app for that.  Go figure.  DrK

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