Safaricom Announces Scheduled System Maintenance

Safaricom PLC has announced a planned system maintenance that will affect all top-up airtime services.

The telco company in a statement on Saturday, October 26, stated that the maintenance will last for seven hours from October 26 at 10:00 pm to October 27 at 5:00 am.

“Dear customers. We will carry out system maintenance and upgrades from 10pm, 26 October to 5am, 27 October 2024,” read the statement in part.

“During this period, you may experience an interruption in the following services in All Top up Airtime services.”

Other services to be affected during this Period are Okoa Jahazi services and all Bundle purchases via Airtime and M-PESA.

Safaricom Announces Scheduled Maintenace to Affect Airtime Purchase

Others include all subscription services, postpaid payments, sambaza, Bonga and SIM Swaps.

“Other than for the services listed above, all other services will remain available,” Safaricom added.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to enhance our services.”

Also Read: Safaricom to Refund M-PESA Transaction Fees to Customers

CEO Peter Ndegwa Clarifies Internet Shutdown During Protests

This comes after Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa on Wednesday October 23 clarified the internet shutdown on June 25, 2024, when the Gen-Z protesters invaded Parliament and the company’s role in the implementation of the new Social Health Assurance (SHA).

In a TV interview, Ndegwa apologized for the shutdown and promised that such an incident would never recur.

He explained that Safaricom is the largest internet provider and it’s their responsibility to keep the country connected and ensure that internet is always available.

“It’s unfortunate that we lost the internet. I felt like we let our customers down. Safaricom is the largest provider of internet in this country, so we let our customers down,” he said.

Ndegwa stated that the telecommunications company has invested to ensure customers enjoy internet access throughout the country. He acknowledged customer backlash following the internet failure, admitting they had valid reasons for disappointment.

“I apologize to all our customers for disappointing them. I am committed to maintaining an always-on network. Safaricom cares and is dedicated to providing frictionless service,” he said.

“When a brand faces such criticism, it shows people care and value what we deliver; otherwise, they would simply walk away. It’s about reaffirming our commitment to them,” he added.

Also Read: Safaricom CEO Clarifies Internet Shutdown During Gen Z Protests & Role in SHA

Involvement in Abductions

Additionally, the CEO dismissed claims that Safaricom was releasing customers’ information to government agencies during the demonstrations.

Ndegwa said the Company has an elaborate security system to protect customers’ data as outlined in the Data Privacy Act.

“There was a perception that Safaricom was giving out people’s information during protests. We have created an ecosystem that allows us to control the data we have, and we follow the data privacy Act,” he said.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates.