The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), on Thursday, changed tune over the warning given by the Director General Francis Wangusi that sim cards of those would not have registered for Huduma Namba will be switched off.
Speaking in Kisumu, Wangusi had earlier stated, "We will ask service providers to shut down SIM cards of those who will not have acquired Huduma Namba.
“We will ask service providers to shut down SIM cards of those who will not have acquired Huduma Namba.
"Those without SIM cards will not be able to purchase new ones without Huduma Namba,” Mr Wangusi stated.
Following uproar on social media over the remarks, Wangusi claimed that he had been misquoted by the media.
“We wish to clarify that the Director-General has been quoted out of context. For the record Mr. Wangusi emphasized the importance of the Huduma Namba as a single source of the truth for the identity of citizens,” the statement read in part.
He noted that unscrupulous persons had in the past either used lost ID cards or ID cards of dead persons to register SIM Cards with the express purpose of misusing the cars so registered to perpetrate criminal activities.
He added that in the future, after adequate consultations with the relevant stakeholders and changes in the law, the Huduma Namba may be considered for use in the registration of Sim cards.
"The Authority, therefore, wishes to assure Kenyans that there are no plans in place to switch off sim cards for subscribers who will have not registered for Hudum Namba by the set deadline of May 18," he concluded.
Here is the statement:
