Thousands of Kenyans are racing against the clock to register their SIM cards before they are turned off by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
To prevent deactivation, the government ordered mobile network companies Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom Kenya to register their users by April 15. After similar warnings in 2012 and 2018, the regulator is threatening to turn off unregistered lines for the third time.
“We have pledged to do everything possible to guarantee that all of our clients comply with the directive, and we urge them to do so before the deadline.” “We encourage all customers who have not updated their registration details to do so as soon as possible to prevent the last-minute rush,” Safaricom said in a statement to the Nation.
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Client registrations have risen among operators.
“To that end, we’ve set up registration booths in various locations across the country to bring our consumers closer to us so they can submit their information,” the telco stated.
On Thursday, a large number of Kenyans were observed queuing outside various telco shops to register their phone lines.
CA forbids the marketing of SIM cards under the Registration of SIM Card Regulations (2015). Offenders could face a six-month prison sentence, a Sh300,000 fine, or both.
The guidelines are designed to make it easier for agents to register SIM cards, which has been a source of frustration for the regulator and telecoms because some subscribers use the lines to conduct fraud.
Customers’ information will need to be updated with a digital passport-size photo of the consumer and their national ID, as well as a passport for refugees and others.
