No Bonga Points Expiry: Safaricom Loses as Court Upholds Decision on Loyalty Programme
- In November 2024, the High Court stopped Safaricom PLC from introducing an expiry date on its loyalty programme offering customers Bonga points
- High Court Judge Chacha Mwita dismissed an application by the telecommunication firm seeking a stay order on its decision
- Mwita said the court determination of Safaricom's notice as constitutional remains in force until the telco's appeal is determined
Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Safaricom customers will continue to use Bonga points without fear that they will expire soon.
Source: Twitter
The High Court suspended Safaricom PLC's application to stay the decision that nullified the telco's notice on the expiry of the loyalty programme.
What did court say about Safaricom Bonga expiry?
High Court Judge Chacha Mwita said in a ruling released on Monday, July 14, that the court will not go against its decision that determined Bonga points expiry unconstitutional.
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“In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate and possibly contrary to article 2(4) of the Constitution for this court, as the trial court, to grant a stay of its decision declaring the 1st respondent’s (Safaricom) notice constitutionally infirm,” said Justice Mwita as quoted by Business Daily.
In November 2024, Mwita quashed Safaricom's notice on Bonga points expiry, noting that once allocated, the loyalty points become the customer's property.
Justice Mwita added that the telco's notice goes against consumer economic rights.
What did Safaricom say about Bonga expiry?
Safaricom made an application in April 2025, seeking stay orders pending an appeal hearing.
The telco argued that the court decision stopping the expiry of Bonga points will allow customers to use and deplete points older than three years, making the decision irreversible if the appeal goes through.
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, Safaricom noted that the expiry date on Bonga points was supposed to take effect in October 2022.
"It has not been effective for a long time, following the case currently in court," said Safaricom.
Petitioner Magare Gikenyi sued Safaricom PLC and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), and the Attorney General (AG) over the plan to introduce an expiry date on the Bonga loyalty programme, arguing that its decision is against consumers’ economic rights.
Gikenyi also mentioned the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) as interested parties.
What to know about Safaricom Bonga points
The Bonga points programme is a reward scheme that Safaricom extends to its prepay and postpay consumers.
Safaricom launched the loyalty programme in 2017, offering one point for every KSh 10 spent on its network.
The services that earn Safaricom Bonga points are data, SMS or phone calls, which can be redeemed by dialling *126# for airtime, mobile data, talk time minutes, phones, tablets, and accessories.
Safaricom also partnered with Kenya Airways to allow customers to purchase air tickets using Bonga points.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
