The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is considering proposals to change SIM card registration nationwide. The goal is to require mobile network operators (MNOs) to handle registrations directly, eliminating third-party and mobile money agents. This move aims to secure subscriber data accuracy and protect digital identities. CA Chief Executive Officer and Director General David Mugonyi stated that the proposed changes are due to widespread compliance failures and significant gaps in collecting subscriber data.
Under existing telecommunications regulations, mobile subscribers are required to provide comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) details during SIM card registration. These details include alternative telephone numbers, email addresses, and secondary contact information. However, many roadside sellers and mobile money agents skip these essential steps to earn quick commissions. Some subscribers also deliberately evade providing additional personal details. Mugonyi highlighted that this lack of reliable contact data creates severe operational hurdles for telecom providers and law enforcement.
The CA is pushing for direct registration through official telecom branch networks to ensure strict KYC compliance, enhance cyber safety, and close lingering loopholes in Kenya's mobile ecosystem. This move is expected to address the issues of non-compliance and inaccurate data collection. By requiring MNOs to handle registrations directly, the regulator aims to protect subscribers' digital identities and prevent potential security risks.
The proposed changes were disclosed during a parliamentary hearing on October 6. Mugonyi appeared before Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee, where he discussed the need for stricter regulations. He emphasized that the current system allows agents to bypass essential KYC steps, creating significant gaps in subscriber data collection. The CA is working to address these gaps and ensure that telecom providers have accurate and reliable contact information for their subscribers.
The regulatory discussion also touched on the safeguards governing the deactivation and recycling of dormant phone numbers. The Communications Authority clarified the procedures and technical safeguards in place to prevent subscribers from prematurely losing access to linked financial accounts, government portals, and digital services. These regulations follow landmark court rulings recognizing mobile numbers as personal digital identities.
The CA framework allows specific numbers to be "whitelisted" against automatic deactivation for individuals unable to use their phones for prolonged periods due to external circumstances. This applies to subscribers facing extended hospitalizations, prolonged travel, or incapacity. For incarcerated individuals, special protocols are in place, and the Commissioner of Prisons can submit official requests to mobile operators to whitelist phone numbers belonging to inmates serving sentences exceeding six months.
The proposed ban on third-party agents from SIM card registration aims to address the issues of non-compliance and inaccurate data collection. By requiring MNOs to handle registrations directly, the regulator aims to ensure strict KYC compliance, enhance cyber safety, and close lingering loopholes in Kenya's mobile ecosystem. The CA is working to implement these changes to protect subscribers' digital identities and prevent potential security risks.
Key points
- The Communications Authority of Kenya is considering proposals to overhaul SIM card registration nationwide.
- The proposed changes aim to address widespread compliance failures and significant gaps in collecting subscriber data.
- The regulator aims to ensure strict KYC compliance, enhance cyber safety, and close lingering loopholes in Kenya's mobile ecosystem.
