Safaricom subscribers will enjoy free internet to stream live as Kenya’s iconic marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge’s attempt to complete the 42 kilometer race in less than two hours.
The promotion which will run from 8am to 4 pm on Saturday targets to net more comprehensive support from Kenyans, who can share words of encouragement via a dedicated text line 159.
The data bundles will be accessed by dialing *159# upon which a customer will receive free YouTube access, allowing them to stream the entire race at no cost.
Earlier in the day, the Kenyan mobile phone giant announced change the logo of its money transfer platform M-Pesa to bear the marathoner’s name for net seven days as a show of loyalty and support for Kipchoge who landed in Vienna, Austria Tuesday. The new logo has the five letters spelling Kipchoge’s first name, “Eliud” and the numbers “1:59” to denote the challenge.
The firm’s acting CEO Michael Joseph said it is great honour for Safaricom to be associated with the athlete whose high ambition is in synch with the company’s rallying call ‘Twaweze’ (it can be done).
“It is an immense honour and privilege to have the opportunity to dedicate our iconic M-PESA brand in honour of a befitting icon,’’ Joseph said.
He added that it was a super-human fete that takes great talent and effort to even accomplish.
“This is a super-human feat that takes great talent and effort to even accomplish. In this regard, we will be going beyond having Kipchoge as our ambassador; Equally, Safaricom will also become Eliud Kipchoge’s ambassador,” Michael Joseph said.
Kipchoge who is the current world marathon record holder is an M-Pesa brand ambassador. The global pioneer mobile money transfer platform has over 21 million subscribers.
