
NASA: ANC Internal Memo – “Re: Notice to Quit the National Super Alliance (NASA) By Amani National Congress” (30.11.2017)



Today, I will write about how international businesses are using their power and their markets strategy, while people are giving up their private communications and other vital information for simple transactions between family and friends, also when borrowing micro-credit or buying solar-cells through credit. This is all based on the Privacy International recently released report and the quotes are taken from there. It shows vital information taken from citizens who uses apps and financial services in their daily lives. Clearly, they have accessed certain freedoms for the trade with these Kenyans. The business transactions and the trade is not only making direct profits for the corporations allowing direct transactions, but also delivering services like payday loans and buying equipment. Still, it has a special price and they have to sign-up to give away certain aspects of their lives to gain this. That is what is interesting because it says something of how much of the personal space these corporations are getting from the persons they are profiting from!
“The term ‘fintech’ has been defined by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as: “a dynamic segment at the intersection of the financial services and technology sectors where technology-focused start-ups and new market entrants innovate the products and services currently provided by the traditional financial services industry.” (Privacy International, P: 10, 2017).
“Yet a change that has not been much explored is that M-Pesa also produces a vast amount of data for the telco Safaricom. Each of the millions of transactions that take place a year tell a story. They tell the story of how the small business is operating: the money they’re sending to their suppliers, the transactions that are taking place. But it tells other stories as well: the money that comes in and then is sent to the hospital. The school fees paid by the biological father, unknown to anyone except the mother, father and Safaricom. But there is also a way in which this data is known by third parties. The transmission of the content of the money transfers over M-Pesa is encrypted. However, the details of any transactions are sent, unencrypted, by plain SMS. Even if M-Pesa transactions themselves are sent via secure and encrypted means, the account information is not. The messages that someone sends for receiving or sending money include the name of the recipient (from the registration of the SIM), the amount sent, and their current balance. This facilitates the gathering of personal data by apps. The fact that the transactions can be tracked becomes a large part of the power of the lenders, as in the Kenyan example, leaves a trail via the M-Pesa SMS messages for both customer and retailer. As shall be illustrated, this is an aspect of M-Pesa of which fintechs are able to take advantage” (Privacy International, P: 29, 2017).
Tala App:
“From the data provided by the app, decisions are made about whether and how people repay their loans. One of the key pieces of data is to analyse the content of SMS messages for the records of M-Pesa payments. These are very valuable records to analyse; for example, if the person seeking a loan has a small business, it is a good measure of the health of the business and the money entering and leaving the business. But, according to Tala, it can also be used to analyse how people are actually using their loans, as frequently the money they receive from Tala will leave someone’s M-Pesa account immediately (for example, to pay school fees or a hospital loan, or an individual). But the analysis of the data by Tala extends beyond this, to make analyses based on data and information that are, at best, unexpected to be used for credit scoring. For example, Tala analyses call logs: their analysis has found that people who make regular calls to family are 4% more likely to repay their loan. To do this analysis, they need to know who your family is: from the content of text messages that call someone “mama”, and the pattern of calls” (Privacy International, P: 30, 2017).
Branch:
“One difference from Tala is that Branch also makes use of Facebook for authentication; as discussed below, this is allowed under Facebook’s terms and conditions. Another factor that Branch uses for its decision-making is the behaviour of your friends, and their repayment patterns for Branch loans. How does Branch know who your friends are? They have a refer-a-friend feature (as does Tala), which is one source of this data. But they can also see your Facebook friends, and your call log to know who is contacted regularly” (Privacy International, P: 31, 2017).
M-Kopa:
“The data that M-Kopa gathers from the device via the SIM is information like location (using cell data, not GPS), the charge level in the battery, and what devices are plugged in. They will also soon be gathering data on the television programmes watched. This specific data on programming is not data that it is planning on selling, but rather to use to develop its own services in the future. M-Kopa’s website states that, “After completing payments, customers own the product outright.” However, the customer does not own their data. The terms and conditions of a M-Kopa loan make the company’s position on data clear: “M-KOPA shall have absolute and sole ownership of … the data which is obtained by the Customer’s use of the Device.” Customers have no right to even see their own
data, apart from the provisions under Credit Reference Bureau rules. For M-Kopa, it ultimately comes down to a business decision: “If data privacy was important for the Kenyan consumer, we would do it,” states Chad Larson, the Chief Credit Officer at M-Kopa. At the same time, both M-Kopa and its investors have a viewpoint that their use of data is ethical” (Privacy International, P: 32, 2017).
Control over the data:
“A significant issue with the fintech companies in Kenya, is that they keep access to the data. They keep the data—and, in some cases analyse it, even if the user has stopped being a customer of theirs, and has deleted their app. Branch is explicit that it keeps the data even after a user uninstalls the app, and admits it is possibly doing further analysis on it, “we have that right.” Tala encourages people, even if they have been rejected for a loan, to keep the app; if they do delete it, Tala retains their data. This is so that, if the customer returns later, they can reinstall the app, go through some simple KYC checks, and be able to borrow again. M-Kopa, on the other hand, continues to collect data from the device even after the loan has been repaid” (Privacy International, P: 33, 2017).
Just as this reveals that Safaricom, the partly owned Vodacom Telecom Business have no trouble through the M-Pesa, the Cellphone Mobile-Money Transactions, that they can hold onto all information between all parts of the transactions. Like how a person send the messages of giving money to friend/family and at what point they picking up the mobile-money. This personal data is all incorporated into their apps, as they provide the services and keeps this fintech data on each of their clients.
As we see with the Tala App, which is also used to get loans. Tala analyses the personal SMS’s from the client to either give or not accept proposals for loans from their services. Tala are looking into the M-Pesa messages given to the client and are scanned by the app. To see if the client can actually be able to repay the debt possible sign-off from Tala. This proves that the Tala App is checking the credit history done with the services of M-Pesa, which is Safaricom/Vodacom. Branch another Fintech app is taking it further, they are also analyzing your behavior and who is your refer-friend on Facebook. They are clearly entitled to the private information of your networks before you get a loan. So they know exactly, who and when you contact friends and family on social media before giving you a loan. It shows how personal and how much information on app can get before you get the services needed from them.
M-Kopa are another one, who is directly saying that all information collected from their costumers are their to own and to use for later costumers. It can also be used after the usage. More of these Apps seems to do so. They are keeping this personal data even after the transactions, the loans and the purchase. This can be used to further get clients and knowledge of when the costumers need it more. So they can get them “addicted” to the services. We have no idea how they store this personal data or who they trade it with after gathering it all.
This should all be scrutinized and questioned, as it breaches with personal space collected with marketing and simple ploy to generate enough information to be able to gain the services from the companies. These companies are vultures of the costumers private space and uses it as leverage for their trade.
It is worrying how far they are taking it and how much personal information they are gathering to give them these services. Peace.
Reference:
Privacy International – ‘Fintech: Privacy and Identity in the New Data-intensive Financial Sector’ (November 2017)











“The election was not a contest between a good dream and a bad dream; it was a contest between two competing visions. I believe that those who voted for me chose the better vision. This, however, does not invalidate the aspirations of those who did not vote for me. I undertake to be the custodian of the dreams of all, and to be the keeper of the aspirations of those who voted for me and those who did not. I will be the President of all. And I will devote my time and energy to build bridges to unite and bring prosperity to all Kenyans. Today is a historic day for our great Nation. First our gratitude is to Almighty God. I also point out that the Kenyan voter has been the most important player in the election. Everyone who voted played a role in strengthening our democracy: today’s celebration is yours. Asante sana” (Uhuru Kenyatta – Inauguration, 28.11.2017).
Today, there it is 11 Presidents at Kasarani Stadium for the Swearing-in of the 2nd Term of Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. While that is happening the National Super Alliance had planned a Prayer Rally for the recently deceased supporters at Jacaranda Stadium. This is the rally where Raila Odinga and the leadership of NASA would show-up. Where the Police had it sealed off, and showed tear-gas and water-canons. So that is proof of the two different states within the state now.
Kenyatta and Ruto is currently basking in glory of despots and supporters. While the NASA are under fire and burning as they planned and notified the authorities of the prayer rally. Therefore, the injustice now is put into system. As Jubilee Party and the Ruling Regime can really do as they please. Nothing stops them and they will do whatever to quell the NASA. The acts on Mnyanja Road have proven how ill the government is and how illegitimate it is.
Kenyatta knows this and therefore using force to stop the opposition from the rally there today. As he wants all the glam and good shots at the Kasarani Stadium. Clearly, because of his actions and orders, people will look into aftermath at Jacaranda stadium, where more lives are lost. The count right now is 5 people killed by state officers either Anti-Riot Police or Soldiers.
Today, the speech of Kenyatta doesn’t matter, it is pointless, the inauguration of him is too. He proves to the world that the people are supporting Odinga and even dying for him. As the state officers are killing its own. While several Presidents are trying to legitimizing the regime. The media has been banned from showing live footage of the happenings at Jacaranda, as the show at Kasarani was going smoothly. Today, it’s also ironic that in the last 48 hours the Jubilee has used school-buses to ferry the public to its ceremony. While Acting CS Fred Matiangi, earlier this year has banned this sort of activity. Clearly, the Jubilee is allowed to breach their own regulations when it fits them.
There is clearly to type of rules and two different attitudes. The Jubilee uses nice words and rhetoric, they own it all, but the public support is behind NASA. There are different tensions, as Kenyatta trying to talk of peace between all, while his orders from above is killing civilians. They are ambushing, even throwing garbage at the Jacaranda Stadium, which they knew about. The NASA didn’t do anything ill at Kasarani. So the proof of double standard are there.
The live bullets and the oppressive behavior will back-fire. Again, innocent lives gotten lost behind this hurt between leaders of Kenya. The NASA are trying to do their thing, but Jubilee is stifling it. They have the state powers and the police organizations to handle it. Kenyatta should have let the rally go without violence, without these senseless killings. He should have, but he couldn’t handle being humiliated by Odinga’s crowd and popularity. That he could be shadowed by fellow Kenyan leader. The Pyrrhic Victory will clearly hunt him… it will overshadow all of his reign. Even if he is partly legal by the Supreme Court and by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Still, it will forever be questionable and even with the facts of rigging will tarnish his reputation.
Kenyatta will never be seen as a legitimate president in many eyes and it is proven today. That is the reason why he has to quell and silence NASA rallies. He stops them and uses all tactics. This will not be winning in the long-run. Jubilee, might have the power, but lost important parts of the public. They will never see him as their President. Even as they mourning the dead, he killed more and ordered more death. That is the legacy and the blood on his hands. He can speak peace, but his acts is of violence. Remember that, that is the reality and not something that should be said with ease.
Today, wasn’t a celebration or the start of the second term of Kenyatta. Today is a day again of mourning, innocent lives died, while Jubilee celebrated themselves. If this continues, it will be their demise, how many people can they take without it matters? How much violence and political instability can the Kenyatta government muster before it cracks? That is what we shall wonder about. Since this is self created and self possessed narrative they have created. It should have been a beautiful day, basking in glory and in promise of a better tomorrow. Instead, its in the blood of old and defeat that it will be remembered for.
Kenyatta, your losing it, either your legacy or your power. This is not the way to run and to win. This is the way to stay, but not to be respected or be part of something greater. You might used some powerful and peaceful words, but your actions are depressing. You cannot even show some sympathy or let people mourn without leaving more hurt. That is your legacy now. Peace.







