KENYAN PICKPOCKETS PROTEST CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS

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V16 2013 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 16, Number 28, July 7, 2013, Article 34

This is NOT from The Onion and it is not April 1st today.

The story Chris forwarded was also picked up by Numismatic News. Here's an excerpt. Thanks! -Editor

Local pickpockets have come out to strongly condemn the shift Kenya is taking towards a cashless society.

At a press conference held in a secret and remote location, the pickpockets criticised the move by financial institutions and mobile phone networks to popularise electronic and mobile money, saying it is robbing them of their means of livelihood.

“Whenever people carry ATM cards and keep money in their SIM cards, it means that whenever we dip our hands into their pockets, we come out empty handed! This is threatening our means of survival must be discouraged in the strongest terms possible,” asserted Yellow Pages, the spokesperson for the pickpockets, so named because his fingers do all the walking in people’s pockets.

Regarding the numerous electronic and mobile money products being introduced into the market, the pickpockets called for a halt in the pace of innovation.

“For all those people with brilliant ideas, this is the time to stop thinking and let the rest of the world overtake you for the sake of our job security!” said Yellow Pages, as he shifted his dark glasses.

Coins and paper money must be disappearing at a record clip for things to come to this. Of course, I'm not so sure this isn't a gag. It's funny regardless. -Editor

To read the complete article, see: Pick pockets oppose cashless transactions (www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000082056&story_title=Kenya-pick-pockets-oppose-cashless-transactions)

To read the Numismatic News article, see: Pickpockets Protest Cashless Society (www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=26997&et_mid=626594&rid=238076497)

Wayne Homren, Editor