An M-Pesa agent from Mwea, Kirinyaga County has received praise for creating a wooden money sanitizer. Wanjohi used wood, plastic, a motor, a rubber band, and gears which enable the note to move in and out of the machine. This happens to all cash that is being brought by the customer and the money handed back to customers as change or as withdrawals.
“We came up with the idea to create this machine so that we can protect people from this Coronavirus,” explained Wanjohi.
This comes at a time when Kenyans are being discouraged from using physical money when buying, selling, or undertaking any other transactions.
Mpesa agent from Mwea, Kirinyaga County creates wooden cash sanitiser pic.twitter.com/syiPe52Fqh
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) May 14, 2020
His invention was shared by the Daily Nation, and people in the comment section indicated how impressed they were.
As much as the device gives a notion of sanitized money, it may not be the case since it hasn't been approved by KeBS. It may make one forget to be careful…to wash hands,to sanitize or to wear gloves.The best way to be safe Is actually sanitizing and washing of hands..and ppe's
— Jnr mwas irungu (@IrunguJnr) May 14, 2020
I remember coming up with such a project back in highschool and the teacher said it was unrealistic.. Anyway shout out to the innovator
— ??????? ?????????? (@MMwakulomba) May 14, 2020
@SafaricomPLC @Safaricom_Care These are the type of guys you need ….Taking innovation to the end users .I am so proud of him.
— M (@Rael_l_) May 14, 2020
However, not everyone felt this way. Some thought that the best way to stay protected is by simply sanitizing hands and wearing gloves, while others said the invention was unreliable.
As much as the device gives a notion of sanitized money, it may not be the case since it hasn't been approved by KeBS. It may make one forget to be careful…to wash hands,to sanitize or to wear gloves.The best way to be safe Is actually sanitizing and washing of hands..and ppe's
— Jnr mwas irungu (@IrunguJnr) May 14, 2020
Wash your hands or use gloves…..
— Yohanne (@yohanthegiant) May 14, 2020
He should simply wear gloves when handling cash.
— Realist (@Realist254_) May 14, 2020
When the first cases of Coronavirus appeared in Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta insisted that citizens should “explore ways of deepening mobile-money usage to reduce the risk of spreading the virus through physical handling of cash”. While this may be true for many Kenyans, it would prove difficult for MPESA agents, who have to handle physical cash.