The Communication Authority(CA) has said the need to update registration details by Mobile Network Operators of their subscribers is being done to protect consumers.
The Authority said incidences of sim-boxing, financial fraud, kidnapping, terrorism and related crimes prevail in compromised sim card registration processes.
“How can we win the war against such crimes if we cannot participate in ensuring that we have updated records,” posed Ezra Chiloba, CA Director-General, in a statement.
The CA has set a deadline of April 15th for mobile network operators to update their subscriber databases.
Subscribers who fail to comply risk a fine of KSh 300,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months. The Authority said it would provide further guidance depending on the outcome of the exercise.
While the ongoing verification process has attracted protests from subscribers and sections of the political class who have linked the exercise to the forthcoming polls, to be held in August this year, CA insists that it is merely enforcing regulations that have been in existence for the past seven years.
The Kenya Information and Communications (Registration of SIM cards) Regulations were gazetted on 14th August 2015.
Following subscribers’ complaints and lack of information, the CA has held consultative meetings with the operators and agreed on several actions that will facilitate compliance without disrupting duly registered subscribers.
All operators shall provide a self-verification USSD code and online platform with standardized menus and messages.
Subscribers must use the code USSD *106# to verify their registration details. Thus, subscribers are not required to visit a customer service centre unless necessary.
The regulations do not require subscribers to submit photos of themselves during registration or verification exercise. However, records of subscribers must include identification documents such as the National ID, service cards for disciplined forces, passports and birth certification, whichever is applicable.
CA said the ongoing exercise is not a new registration but an opportunity for subscribers to validate their registration details.
The telecommunications operators are under obligation to register all subscribers and keep the record of all SIM Cards sold and records of registered subscribers.
The operators are required to amend the records within seven days whenever there is a change to the particulars of a subscriber.
As part of enforcing the regulations on SIM card registration, in 2021, the Authority carried out inspections exercises in 22 Counties.
Among its key findings were incidences where SIM cards are sold without registration, and customers are advised to register later.
SIM cards are also sold using another person’s ID card or proxy or other documents like the NSSF cards and student IDs.
SIM cards are given for free, using fictitious identity card numbers in most cases, therefore not resulting in registration but the sale of the line.
SIM cards are sold without presenting an identification document, and no verification is done.
Accordingly, the Authority directed operators to take the necessary steps to ensure full compliance with the law on SIM Card registration by setting the April deadline.
ALSO READ: Regulator Gives Telcos 7 Days To Switch Off Unregistered Sim cards
