The government has launched a countrywide crackdown targeting Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card dealers in the latest registration drive.
The Communication Authority of Kenya noted that a number of Kenyans who have not been registered with their official details obtained their sim cards from unlicensed agents and hawkers.
Speaking on Tuesday, March 15, CA head of Telcom Compliance, Licensing, and Standards, Julius Lenaseiyan noted that in the latest operation, unlicensed agents and hawkers will be arrested.
He claimed that the unlicensed dealers mostly target old individuals and even to some extent work with criminals who run online fraudulent schemes.
"Hawkers and Agents who contravene the regulations will also be arrested," the CA official stated.
Justifying the move to target SIM card dealers, the regulatory body stated that the business people derailed the registration exercise which has been going on for some time.
He further directed all telecommunication companies to register users following the laid down procedures before the time limit elapses.
"The SIM card regulations 2015 now stipulate that the mobile operators should re-register their subscribers by updating their details with a digital passport size photo of the customers," Julius stated.
He added, "A person who intends to register a SIM-card shall provide verifiable registration particulars which include a national ID for citizens and passports for refugees and other outsiders."
According to CA, the new directives are aimed at taming fraudulent use of SIM cards as well as updating the subscriber information databases.
Speaking during the same event, CA Director General Ezra Chiloba reiterated that those who will not have registered their sim cards by April 15 will have their lines suspended.
"SIM card registration is one of our core mandates. We put in public notices requiring all mobile operators to ensure that all SIM cards are properly registered by 15th April 2022," Chiloba stated.
He also asked telecommunication operators to ensure that all information presented aligns with the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS).
To ensure that the exercise goes on past April 15, the regulatory body announced plans to enforce compliance with the regulations by auditing the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) .
