Switch on your mobile phone and make cash

• Safaricom is partnering with Equity Bank to put bank accounts in the hands of mobile phone users.
• Kenya becomes first country in the world to introduce financial transactions system that does not involve a card.

At the moment, Zain has about two million customers as it controls 20 per cent of the mobile phone market. But this could increase since the firm has lowered its calling rates significantly.

It must not be forgotten that 80 per cent of Kenyans live in rural areas and this market is up for grabs as more of them are buying mobile phones.

Even the Government has not been left behind in this revolution. According to Mr Gideon Ndambuki, the assistant minister for Agriculture, farmers can get advice from both Safaricom and Zain on what crops can do best in their regions as part of a campaign to improve productivity. All one has to do is write the name of the crop one wants to plant then # and the name of their home division before sending the SMS to 2964.

All these developments mean one thing: That people living in rural areas and who have average to below-average incomes are likely to see a significant change in the way they communicate, transfer money and do business over the next few years. What is more, the charges for these services are affordable and are likely to drop further over time due to competition.

However, for the great majority to enjoy these new benefits, they would be well advised to stop using their mobile phones to only send love messages and threaten their enemies. They should wake up to the new reality that they can use their phones to improve their jobs and makes lots of money.

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Game politicians play best

Isn’t it a pity that moving goalposts is not one of the games that countries can take part in at the Olympics? If it were, Kenyan politicians would no doubt clinch the gold medal in this very important event. Consider this.

Last year, politicians allied to PNU supported an elderly candidate for the presidency. At the time, they said age was nothing but a number. What mattered was a person’s experience and ability to lead. On the other hand, those allied to ODM said Kenya needed a youthful leadership that would bring change and send the old guard to retirement.

Changed positions

Eight months down the line, the two groups have changed positions. Now, one MP allied to PNU has drafted a Bill that seeks to set an age limit for future presidents. According to the MP, Mr Mithika Linturi, anyone seeking the highest office in the land should not be over 65 years of age. In his view, one of the problems facing Kenya is that politics is used as a “dumping ground for retirees” who have run out of ideas.

The MP has attracted the ire of ODM leaders, including Agriculture minister William Ruto and MP Ayiecho Olweny. Both say that setting an age limit for future presidents would amount to discrimination against the elderly.

In America, this kind of discrimination is called ageism. But it can also be a double edged sword as the ongoing presidential campaigns there have demonstrated.

On the one had, the Democratic candidate, Senator Barack Obama, 47, is criticised for being “young and inexperienced”. On the other, the Republican candidate, 72-year-old John McCain, is causing jitters because he is the oldest non-incumbent to vie for the presidency.

To balance these accusations, Mr Obama picked Mr Joe Biden, 65, as his running mate because he has many years of experience in Washington. Not to be outdone, Mr McCain picked governor Sarah Palin, who is much younger than Obama, to energise his campaign.