Baba Talisha has raised eyebrows online after questioning Safaricom’s handling of mobile numbers, wondering why the telecom giant appears unable to generate entirely new lines for customers. In his remarks, he lamented that buying a new Safaricom line often feels like inheriting someone else’s past.
According to him, many customers end up being assigned recycled numbers that once belonged to people who are deceased, missing, or burdened with unresolved debts from mobile lending apps such as Tala. As a result, new users reportedly receive endless calls and messages meant for strangers, creating unnecessary stress and confusion.
The concern taps into a growing frustration among mobile users who expect a “new line” to mean a clean slate. For many, the experience of being contacted by creditors, family members, or acquaintances of a previous owner raises questions about privacy, data management, and customer care standards.
Baba Talisha’s comments also challenge Safaricom’s innovation image, suggesting that a company of its size and technological capacity should be able to roll out fresh number ranges or offer better safeguards before recycling old lines. To critics, the issue reflects a gap between corporate growth and everyday customer experience.
His remarks have resonated with many Kenyans who shared similar stories online, turning a personal complaint into a broader conversation about accountability and consumer rights in the telecom sector. Whether Safaricom responds or not, the discussion has once again highlighted how small inconveniences can quickly become national talking points when they touch the daily lives of millions.
