Kenyan phone users face jail over new state directive
By Mark Oloo in East Africa – A new directive in Kenya requiring all mobile phone users to register their simcards with the government has taken effect, promising a three-year jail term for those who will fail to comply.
Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo
The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) says mobile phone users have a 90-day window period within which to register their lines failure to which they would be permanently be deactivated. There are 30.8 million active sim cards in the Kenyan market.
Last evening, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo said the directive would not be reversed.
The official, at the same time, accused a section of the local mobile service providers of reluctance to avail subscriber registers to the government to allow the industry regulator to assess compliance.
“Everyone should understand that the implications of not registering would cost them Sh300,000 (2,700 Euros) or three years in jail,” Dr Ndemo told a press conference in Nairobi.
He warned that operators who do not switch off none registered sim cards by the close of the deadline would also be subjected to a fine of Sh300,000 (2,700 Euros) per sim card.
Ndemo spoke as the Kenyan public voiced concerns over the directive terming it punitive. Mobile phone users interviewed in Nairobi and Kisumu said they had registered their sim cards upon purchase and that asking them to register them afresh was unfair.
“I am already a registered user of a cash transfer service with one of the leading telecommunications firms. Why should I be asked to register my line again? This makes no sense at all,” said Mr Paul Okinyi.
Kenya’s major telecommunications players include Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and Yu (Essar) companies, which boast of a combined subscriber base of more than 30 million. Safaricom is the industry leader, with a market share of nearly 50 per cent.
