Two ways that I know of. Some do have small solar panels which are enough to charge a mobile phone. But I noticed that some of the mobile phone and M-PESA shops offered a phone charging service. With some of the old-school button phones holding a charge for nearly a week it's probably quite practical.
Jambo Melanie .. lovely story and yes, the Kenyans are so entrepreneurial !! I know young men who had 2 mobile phones (one Safaricom and one other mobile company )
to get best and widest coverage .. before I owned my first mobile phone age 50 !! One person I know got himself a couple of solar panels on his roof and charged people living near him to use his power or come and sit around watching the TV and Videos for a small charge. Kenya is a wonderful country ,so glad you are enjoying it and see so many positive things .
Asante sana Eleanor. I was so impressed by the things people were doing - more to come, people doing wonderful things to help our their fellow Kenyans.
Really enjoying your stories from Kenya. Cellphones weren't a thing when we were there, but the flora was (and clearly still is).Lovely photos, I remember the lobelia and the helichrysums among others. Did you see rock hyrax? Blighters were always trying to get into our food on Mt K!
Thanks Dave, glad you've been enjoying these stories. I didn't see a rock hyrax unfortunately. I'd have loved to stay up Mt Kenya, but time wasn't on my side.
I loved learning about this! More business should be conducted in these ways - do what makes sense where it makes sense, don't feel the need to replicate clunky old-world infrastructures.
Thank you for this uplifting story! A favorite picture of mine, clipped from a magazine and hanging at my desk for the past 15-20 years, is of a Maasai warrior in full regalia talking on a bag phone slung over his shoulder. Your story explains that photo and the good events that have happened in the intervening years since it was taken. Thank you!
That's a great story, Melanie, thank you so much for sharing it.
Thank you. It really made me smile.
Love this Melanie. I’m curious though. How do all the people with mobile phones charge them without electricity? Solar panels? Thanks. Bernard
Two ways that I know of. Some do have small solar panels which are enough to charge a mobile phone. But I noticed that some of the mobile phone and M-PESA shops offered a phone charging service. With some of the old-school button phones holding a charge for nearly a week it's probably quite practical.
Jambo Melanie .. lovely story and yes, the Kenyans are so entrepreneurial !! I know young men who had 2 mobile phones (one Safaricom and one other mobile company )
to get best and widest coverage .. before I owned my first mobile phone age 50 !! One person I know got himself a couple of solar panels on his roof and charged people living near him to use his power or come and sit around watching the TV and Videos for a small charge. Kenya is a wonderful country ,so glad you are enjoying it and see so many positive things .
Safari Njema .
Asante sana Eleanor. I was so impressed by the things people were doing - more to come, people doing wonderful things to help our their fellow Kenyans.
A nice story Melanie. I especially liked your point about how a payment application can leapfrog and reduce fraud. Great
thanks Mark. That was a point I found really encouraging, because corruption is such a scourge for people in such countries.
Really enjoying your stories from Kenya. Cellphones weren't a thing when we were there, but the flora was (and clearly still is).Lovely photos, I remember the lobelia and the helichrysums among others. Did you see rock hyrax? Blighters were always trying to get into our food on Mt K!
Thanks Dave, glad you've been enjoying these stories. I didn't see a rock hyrax unfortunately. I'd have loved to stay up Mt Kenya, but time wasn't on my side.
I loved learning about this! More business should be conducted in these ways - do what makes sense where it makes sense, don't feel the need to replicate clunky old-world infrastructures.
Thank you for this uplifting story! A favorite picture of mine, clipped from a magazine and hanging at my desk for the past 15-20 years, is of a Maasai warrior in full regalia talking on a bag phone slung over his shoulder. Your story explains that photo and the good events that have happened in the intervening years since it was taken. Thank you!
Thank you. Sounds like a cool photo. Mobile phones have made such a difference.