Airtel Kenya counts on partnerships to right past missteps

Shaking hands: Kenya Airways Group CEO & MD Dr Titus Naikuni and Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria shake hands after signing the Pan-African CSR agreement.

NAIROBI, KENYA: Airtel was once the butt of jokes in the Kenyan telecoms market over the many times it had to rebrand, after changes in ownership that could have confused customers who were unable to keep up.

Then there is the description of being a distant second to Safaricom, loaded with insinuation that the operator may never catch up with the telecoms market leader. But the operator, who in its lifetime in Kenya has changed ownership and brand names thrice – from Kencell to Celtel, then Zain and finally Airtel, could be turning the corner.