Number Portability long overdue in Kenya

The announcement by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) of an approximately 1 year deadline to introduce number portability service. Service providers have 6 months to start implementing the service.
Number portability allows a subscriber to retain there number while migrating from one service provider to the other. The 3 underdogs (Zain,Orange and YU) were undoubtedly very elated. The dominant player (Safaricom) is not,and am sure they will put all obstacles possible towards achieving this as they definitely stand to lose the most.Their CEO was already on TV critising the service talking of how expensive it is to implement and ineffectiveness in getting subscribers to migrate.
CCK has asked the public to give its views. CCK says studies carried out by the commission indicate that Service Provider Number Portability (SPNP) offers effective intervention in markets that are dominated by single players.
From a consumer point of view this is long overdue. Furthermore it has already been implemented in African countries including South Africa,Nigeria and Egypt
However the one time fee of KSh. 1000 to users is extorbitant. Most Kenyans will be wondering what makes more sense between loading airtime worth Sh 1000 and making a switch.
The service should be either free as in most countries like Brazil,Israel, UK, Ireland and many others or for a reasonable fee such as the one Safaricom is suggesting of about Sh 20 (same as a SIM card).
The proposed 3 day period it will take for the switch to effect is too long considering it takes a mere 20 minutes some countries such as in the Republic of Ireland.
These are some of the challenges that need to be addressed before this service is implemented.