KFS and Safaricom officers take motorists through the new system of paying toll charges at the Likoni crossing channel on October 8, 2020 A week after its launch, the cashless toll payment system at the Likoni crossing channel is being challenged.
Muslims for Human Rights on Tuesday said the system, where motorists and kart pullers using the ferry pay via Safaricom lines by dialling *721#, is discriminatory.
“While we laud this as a step to improve on your customer services, we would also note that your directive to only use M-Pesa to the exclusion of all other payment platforms is discriminatory against members of the public who do not use the M-Pesa option,” wrote Muhuri chairman Khelef Khalifa in a letter to Kenya Ferry Services MD Bakari Gowa on Tuesday.
KFS and Safaricom on October 8 launched the cashless system at the island side of the crossing channel.
KFS human resource manager Thomas Tuva, who represented the MD, said the system will in the long run ensure increased safety and security of commuters at the channel.
“Our ultimate aim is to increase revenue collection by reducing and sealing all revenue leakages,” he said.
Speaking at the launch last Thursday, Tuva said the daily revenue collected at the channel now stands at an average of Sh1.3 million daily.
“This is a 20 per cent reduction, especially during this Covid-19 period. We used to collect about Sh1.5 million daily and on a good day even up to Sh1.9 million,” he said.
With the new system, the aim is to get to a daily target of between Sh2 million and Sh2.5 million.
On Friday, most motorists welcomed the new system saying it will save them time because it is faster.
However, a few questioned why it was restricted to Safaricom lines.“What happens when my phone is off or I do not have a Safaricom line? They should think of other network users as well,” said Joseph Kumalo, who uses the ferry daily.Safaricom head of Coast regional operations Elizabeth Wasuna, however, said people with other lines can also use the service.The Star tried to pay using another line but it failed.On Tuesday, Khalifa said as a public entity, KFS is expected to cater for the needs of all members of the public in an equitable manner.“By not giving an option for other mobile users who do not own Safaricom lines, you are discriminating against some members of the public and thus in contravention […]
