Safaricom has had a number of network glitches in the past. The famous one was when people realized they could buy a ton of data and airtime and Safaricom ended up fixing the problem.
This next problem is particularly hilarious because it led to opportunists being left with considerable debt.
About two days ago, Kenyans noticed that you could okoa multiple times and this meant you can have a ton of airtime for free. Usually, when you okoa, you have to pay your debt before you can request again.
Well, two days ago, people made it seem like Safaricom had a problem with the Okoa Jahazi system. So they planned to okoa as much as possible.
I think other months are watching how March is reacting .okoa more than once…
Am about to try out @SafaricomPLC— George (@George40805877) March 11, 2020
Breaking News!!!
Safaricom Heist is on.!!
You can OKOA JAHAZI as many times as you want. Even upto 100,000.
Don't sleep!!— Kiprono (@Onorpik) March 11, 2020
Saf iko na shida sai you can okoa as many times a you want😂
— Juliet (@Ch3roh) March 11, 2020
However, Safaricom confirmed that it is not an error per se and it was an “improvement” of the Okoa Jahazi where they allow multiple borrowing.
Hi Andrew, This is a feature within Okoa Jahazi that allows Multiple borrowing. You can can now borrow many times without having to first pay the previous loan. Each loan takes its own 5 day repayment. ^ZW
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) March 11, 2020
Some people took the opportunity thinking it was a glitch and they accrued huge Okoa Jahazi debt. People ended up having crazy Okoa Jahazi balances which ran into multiple of thousands and they were regretting heavily.
Hello @Safaricom_Care @SafaricomPLC… I didn't mean to okoa 40k. Mi niliambiwa eti ni heist 😭😭 please take it back. Sitawai rudia tena 😩 pic.twitter.com/DpxAuIz8MY
— Doe®🗝 (@anericod) March 13, 2020
Something is wrong with safaricom again unaweza okoa up to 50 times at the same time
— ⓖⓤⓝⓝⓔⓡⓒⓞⓛⓞⓖⓘⓢⓣ (@Mfalme254_) March 11, 2020
If Safaricom allowed people to Okoa Jahazi numerous times I wouldn't call that a system or technical hitch. They trapped people into debt man. pic.twitter.com/AKnSDKTHhI
— Bayerische Motoren Werke – CEL (@Stan_Subru) March 12, 2020
@Safaricom_Care oyaah hii okoa jahazi debt nko nayo ya 2k mnangoja nilipe? Kama n heist n heist wacha kutuwekea shida mlifaa kuwa rada
— sospeter omweno (@OmwenoSospeter) March 11, 2020
#SAFARICOM HEIST changamkeni wakuu. 🤑🤑 pic.twitter.com/30gZfqlBWQ
— BenrayNgatia (@BenrayNgatia) March 11, 2020
Jamaa amekopa airtime ya 18k akifikiria kuna heist Safaricom 🤣🤣🤣
📸: courtesy pic.twitter.com/dZb3x4YNtM— Peaky Blinder (@millanouma) March 11, 2020
Safaricom Heist pic.twitter.com/5nbhcnnOm7
— ANTHONY (@nambekele_) March 11, 2020
When people realized their mistake, they pleaded to Safaricom about their huge debts but their pleas were met with deaf ears.
Lipa deni,ili iwe funzo 😊^BD
— Safaricom Care (@Safaricom_Care) March 13, 2020
Oyaah Omweno…utamu wa deni ni kulipa. Story za La casa de papel tunaomba usahau. Due to public demand, we’ve made it possible for our customers to borrow multiple times from Okoa Jahazi currently. ^MZ
— Safaricom Care (@Safaricom_Care) March 11, 2020
Hello Pishy, Okoa jahazi is not reversible. Please top up to repay.^NR
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) March 11, 2020
Well, that will teach a few people not to hop into every “glitch” they see on the Internet because they never end well.
