Kenyans have been queuing and rushing to different centres and telcos agents to re-register their SIM cards to beat the April 15 deadline set by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
The regulator also set penalties for those who will not register their SIM cards. CA explained that telcos and the regulator want to update customer details and information systems to phase out scammers.
The regulator reiterated that even those who bought SIM cards in 2021 have to re-register. This is because dual or more illegal SIM registrations have been happening.
Further, the regulator noted the existence of fraudulently registered SIM cards which they claim that their owners use to commit fraud or crime.
CA head of Telcom Compliance, Licensing, and Standards, Julius Lenaseiyan noted that in the latest operation, unlicensed agents and hawkers will be arrested.
1. How To Check Your ID Number Has Not Been Illegally Used In SIM Card Registration:
i. Dial *106#. The USSD allows you to:
ii. Check your numbers alongside the credentials used to register it.
iii. Report unknown numbers associated with your ID.
A person who intends to register a SIM card shall provide full name, identity card, service card, passport or alien card number, date of birth, gender, physical address, postal address, where available, any other registered subscriber number associated with the subscriber.
They shall also provide an original and a copy of the national identity card, service card, passport or alien card. You will also be required to provide an original and a copy of the birth certificate, in respect of the registration of minors, and subscriber number with respect to existing subscribers.
A certified copy of the certificate of registration or incorporation and a copy of the national identity card or passport of at least one director, where relevant; and a letter duly sealed by the chief executive officer or the person responsible for the day to day management of the statutory body.
According to the registration regulations any person, who knowingly provides false information to a telecommunications operator or an agent during the registration process, commits an offence.
Further, the telecommunications operator shall ensure that all transition existing subscribers, who are registered prior to the coming into provisions operation of these regulations, fulfil the requirements within six months of the commencement.
Telcos shall suspend and deactivate a SIM card of a subscriber who fails to comply with the provisions. The provisions of regulations shall be subject to necessary modifications applied to any person who contravenes this regulation.
"A telecommunications operator shall suspend telecommunications services of an unregistered subscriber if the unregistered subscriber fails to comply with these Regulations after thirty days upon the commencement of these Regulations," the Regulations stated.
"A telecommunications operator shall notify all its unregistered subscribers of its intention to suspend the telecommunication services if they do not comply with the provisions of these Regulations within the period specified," it added.
