...as a known major detractor of the green monster on Wazua, I am now forced to break ranks with Chameleontel in whose defence I have been steadfast (esp when it was Zain).

Mainly:

- increasing mediocrity in service and customer service. I recently misplaced my dongle and called 232 to have the line deactivated. The space cadet on the line came back after a brief pause "Thank you for holding, the line is now activated - just load airtime and get a bundle, etc etc" - I explained what I wanted THREE times. WTF? Is this a gargantuan outsourcing flop or what? Anyway, I hope the line is deactivated and will toss the SIM card.

- very unclear data tariffs - bundles seem to cost a pittance but what you are not told is that they expire within a few days and the system automatically deducts the same amount once the bundle has either expired or dries up. If you have a smart phone< i;d recommend you find a way of metering how the bundle gets used - recall it took a while for Kenyans to notice that bread, which used to be 500gm, became 400gms...

- too many promotions that really mean NOTHING to the subscriber - indeed I believe subscribers are being taken for a ride with some of these promotions and having the wool pulled over their eyes.

- treating the Kenyan business environment like a casino - throwing good money after bad money - the minute model MIGHT have worked - but I think too much has been sunk into low tariffs and even more bleeding will happen with free porting. Lets recall that other MNCs have tried to come an take the hill in kenya (SABMiller, Metro Cash and Carry, Tescos) and have all been stung by the peculiar environment. Airtel seems to be feeding the slot machine it time it yields a few tokens - but surely not enough tokens and their value is doubtful (multi SIM environment).

- stooping rather low when it comes to marketing (i.e. offering to pay porting fees amounts to an unfair practice IMHO and the only reason other operators are keeping quiet is they know Airtel have their wallet open and are going to loose even more - let them bleed - we know subscribers are as migratory as wildebeest - they will come back later). MNP is supposed to be a recourse to allow subscribers who are disenchanted with their providers to vote with their feet - not a tool to grow subscriber numbers. Either way, trying to leverage on MNP will bring great grief to Airtel.

- Aside from unclear bundles and how they get used up, the data service is very very unreliable....I have had to call 232 more times in the last month than I have in the last 3 years since I cannot connect or stay connected. Browsing speeds have become as slow as slugs crawling on grease.

- With increasing subscriber base, overall network quality is being affected. Picture your regular 14 seater matatu now carrying 18 people - its getting uncomfortable and we subscribers no longer feel special and have nothing to gloat about in terms of network quality.

I predict in 3-4 months, this fairytale will read ..."Once upon a time, there was a chameleon...but alas, it is now no more. The end."

I urge Airtel subscribers to be VIGILANT - what you pay for voice, data and the various "promotions" should be what you get.

Perhaps we have been socially re-engineered by the recent EXTREMELY low tariffs not to notice we are paying more - perhaps more than before...

@ diinn- bias bia bias. "WE know subscribers are as migratory as wildebeest". Honestly,which side are you on? I can nt see a clear cut point in all you wrote.

I have this feeling that Airtel-Kenya, instead of concentrating on long-term planning and sustained investment to make it a sturdy and robust network capable of holding fort and returning reasonable returns for another 20 or so years to come, is being given a 'polishing up' to exhibit external signs of health, hit some numbers that look good in a prospectus (x million subs, 3g etc etc) then will be peddled for sale to another unwitting, unsuspecting investor or network, and the brilliant business masterminds in India will take the healthy profit and move on to other ventures.

How is that 3G coming by the way? It has been widely rumored the service will commence in April, any updates?

oh, thats a nice word....

@all - If I was to use an analogy...someone has taken a 35 seater mercedes bus of fairly good luxury and taken it apart to create a few noisy tuk tuks in order to charge less and carry more...MINUTE MODEL.

Where 10 semi-skilled tuk tuk drivers = 0.5 experienced, highly trained Class C/D driver (save).

@XSK - thats the whole thing I mean about treating the Kenyan business environment - at what point to you decide to call it a night and leave the casino....then there's the allure that you just might hit the jackpot if you throw more good money away...

Thats I why feel in the next couple of months - which should be around one year after all this started to play out - we will know for sure whether they have put themselves on death row...

coming from you.....

Once upon a time, on the road to Damascus.....anyway, its a change of tune forced by circumstances and not convenience (like a certain "shuttle diplomacy politician" whom we all know...

Anyway, I'm possibly acquiring a taste for citrus fruits since the phoenix and woodpecker are out....the red and green cockatoo seems to be hanging from the branches of the great ebony tree and may very soon draw its last breath...

I said, if MJ was there, we'd be having a "mnahama mnaenda wapi?".... which would make sense to wahamaji sooner than later.

@Djinn
You cant compare yourself to shuttle diplomat.... yours is honesty... when things stop working and you call them as they are.....

@ad*** (name too complicated like the user), you are an ASS. Anti-Safaricom Subscriber. Its so evident. Your hatred for the green behemoth (as seen in your 14 posts in wazua) makes you think an honest opinion is misplaced. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, based on the service they are getting. What is the need for customer care if you cant call it when you are in need??? BK!

@Jus Blazing Behold the tuk tuk drivers that herald the unmaking of this forum! Don't be drawn down to those depths. Esp when one just joined today and whose maiden 14 posts are more like arthritic knee jerk reactions. Anyway, this should be as interesting as watching a puppy chase its tail.