President Kibaki has stopped further cuts in mobile phone termination charges, giving telecom operators reprieve from a looming renewal of tariff wars.

In a directive issued after a meeting with telecoms operators on May 18, the President ordered an immediate stop to the reduction of termination charges — signalling that it will take some time before the operators get new headroom to cut call costs as has happened in the past 10 months.

Link: Kibaki decision on interconnection charges

Winners: Safaricom, Orange Kenya, their employees?, KRA (more tax from operators)

Losers: Airtel, CCK, Kenyans? (I'm sure VVS will agree)

Already Airtel whining: “A change in the implementation plan for the MTR will have a severe impact on our business going forward because we have based our entire Business Operating Plan on the successful implementation of the MTR,” said Mr Rene Meza, the Airtel managing director.

Did Airtel ever have a plan B? Where is the much heralded 3G? They need to rethink their strategy going forward from here...

WHAT! This is the worst decision made by Kibaki in 2011. YEYE NI MAFI YA KUKU. We need safaricom stocks to be KES1.50 by Dec. 2011 ndio tununue mingi na safely! WRONG TIMING MR. GENERAL KIGUOYA (kioga!)!!!!! Kama ulinunua hizo shares, wewe utaumia pole pole pekee yako!

Will Safcon share move tomorrow?

Yes, they can sue, but still what is their plan B? That's my point, was there one in case the scorched earth approach failed?