Kenya’s leading mobile network operator Safaricom today said it has no plans to and has not acquired Kenyan-based ICT multinational Seven Seas Technology but the firms have just partnered to work together in a move expcted to harness technology for the greater good.
The two firms say the deal will see them roll out innovative integrated products in the fields of healthcare, security, education, agriculture, smart cities and county citizen services with an intention of transforming customer’s lives.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said the partnership with Seven Seas Technologies is just like any other partnerships it has with other firms and based on revenue share or the parties arrangements.
“Technology is changing so fast and customers are demanding alot more. Many partnerships fail but Mike Macharia and his team gives us the technology to change the world,” said Collymore. “When Safaricom came into the market, there were speculations that it would buy Seven Seas Technologies. May be my predessors wanted to buy Seven Seas Technologies but it was never my intention to buy Seven Seas Technologies. ”
Collymore added that the partnership brings on board the agility and the technology to provide foundations for building capacity and solutions for the next generation and about changing how citizens interact with the government.
By being a partnership to transform generations, a number of people could see an acquisition in between but both firms denied any acquisition. Collymore insisted that the partnership will plug in into the government’s transformational agenda that is geared at improving how the citizens interact with the government, and at the same time seal existing loopholes in which corruption thrives. It will also complement the aspirations envisioned in Vision 2030.
Safaricom and Seven Seas Technologies will also collaborate in product development and in the design of end-to-end solutions, as well as their delivery and support. Seven Seas Technologies added it brings to the table is our understanding of the market and superior capabilities in the Information and Communication Technology space, having been in operation as a local company over the past 14 years” ,and delivered complex technology projects.
Mike Macharia, Chief Executive Officer of Seven Seas Technologies said the partnership will be a perfect complement to ride on Safaricom’s superior and widespread network infrastructure including cloud services, brand and commitment to Transform Lives through technology.
In April this year, Macharia told Reuters the 14 year old firm had pushed its IPO until 2017 to allow it to sign up new customers in new countries in Africa and break its dependence on the Kenyan market.