How birth of M-Pesa sealed Orange Telkom’s fate

An Orange Telkom mass market officer with a customer during the launch of one of the company’s products. The firm has dropped the name Orange from its branding. [Photo: File, Standard]

Helios Investment Partners, the biggest stock holders in Telkom Kenya, have rolled up their sleeves and hope their recently unveiled turn-around plan will awaken the sleeping giant. The London-headquartered private equity firm that bought a controlling stake in the telco, says it believes it can conquer the Kenyan telecommunications market.

The company that was founded by Nigerian-born duo Babatunde Soyoye and Tope Lawani has   been camping at Telkom Plaza on Ralph Bunche Road for about a year now, and on June 6 unveiled to the public what they said would disrupt the telecommunications industry.