You can now buy power tokens using Bonga points. This development follows a partnership between Safaricom and Kenya Power that will see the electricity provider’s 7.1 domestic customers redeem their Bonga points to purchase power for their households.
The rate of the purchase is 20 cents per Bonga point.
The collaboration will see customers access power using another channel, bearing in mind that the majority of Kenyans are facing financial constraints as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The development also marks another cashless avenue to buy Kenya power tokens as Central Bank encourages people to transact using their mobile money wallets to curb the spread of the virus.
This is not the first time we have seen Kenya Power and the carrier collaborate on a product. Already, Paybill services exist (they have been around for a very long time), and there is Okoa Stima that was also launched a few years ago.
Safaricom has also been trying to let customers offload their Bonga points. The points do not add revenue to the carrier until they are redeemed.
Customers pay for their shopping using the points at multiple large-scale retail stores.
Those who shop at the operator’s e-commerce platform Masoko can also pay for their wares using the points. There are also other use cases such as buying a device using money and Bong points.
What they said
As an organization, we are acutely aware of the impact that this pandemic has had on many Kenyans. We are therefore calling on our customers to take advantage of this opportunity and pay for electricity using Bonga Points.
Bernard Ngugi, Managing Director, and CEO, Kenya Power
Over the years, our customers have enjoyed rewards such as airtime, data bundles, and affordable devices for their loyalty to the Safaricom network. By partnering with Kenya Power, we hope to give our customers more options and freedom in how they utilize their loyalty points.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom
