An M-Pesa agent in Nairobi’s Githurai area has been arrested by police officers after he was found dealing in drugs and not money transfer and withdrawals as appeared.
According to a report by Kenya’s HiviSasa.com, officers raided the suspects shop after a tip-off from concerned citizens and discovered several rolls of bang, a substance bannned in Kenya.
The report says the M-Pesa agent is being held at Kimbo police station for further questioning.
Safaricom has no role is making this man a criminal but out of his personal choice, decided to do drugs instead of registering new M-PESA Customers, allowing cash deposit and withdrawals for both registered and non-registered M-PESA customers, conducting customer education on Safaricom’s policies and bulletins.
Apart from facing criminal charges, the M-Pesa kiosk (and not a fully fledged agent) will face closure by either Safaricom or police officers. This might just a flash forward into what sharing agency networks might lead to as the process makes it harder for closer supervision by MNOs with the influx of MVNO’s.
