The Communications Authority of Kenya has extended sim card registration by six months up to October 15th, 2022. This came about as an aftermath of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans failing to meet the expected deadline day 15th April 2022.
The extension also followed extensive consultations between the Communications Authority of Kenya and the Mobile Network Operators of Kenya. The CAK’s Director-General Ezra Chiloba and the MNOs held a meeting on Thursday, 14th of April to evaluate the success rate of the exercise.
“It is the responsibility of the operators who will advise on whether to switch off the unregistered lines or probably give an extension and allow as many Kenyans as possible to register.”
Said Chiloba in a press conference earlier today.
CAK has also warned that it will fine mobile users who will not have registered their SIM cards by the end of the newly set deadline. CAK ensured that the SIM registration exercise is anchored in the constitution mandating Mobile Network Operators to carry out the exercise.
Chiloba changes tune on sim cards registration (biznakenya.com)
“The requirement to update subscriber registration details is being done primarily to protect consumers of telecommunication services – who is you and me.
Incidences of sim-boxing, financial fraud, kidnapping, terrorism, and related crimes prevail in situations of compromised sim card registration processes.”
Chiloba remarked.
Upon registration, the mobile phone users are required to avail themselves with their National IDs and a photo to be taken when registering. It typically takes less than 5 minutes. This is in line with the latest push to enforce vigorous regulations by capturing the biometric data of millions of subscribers on different mobile network operators.
