The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has reassured consumers that low-cost and existing mobile phones are not banned, following widespread confusion over recent regulatory notices requiring all new phones to use USB Type-C chargers with detachable cables.
- •The authority emphasized that the rules apply only to newly imported devices seeking type approval; phones already in circulation or in transit remain legal.
- •The clarification comes after media reports and speculation suggested that entry-level phones might be prohibited, a claim the CA described as “widespread misrepresentation.”
- •The new technical measures for mobile devices are designed to improve interoperability, enhance safety, reduce electronic waste, and align Kenya with global standards.
“Phones and tablets that were already type-approved before March 24th, 2026, or that are already in circulation and in use by Kenyans, remain fully legal,” CA clarified.
Many low-cost models Kenyans rely on already meet the new technical standard, with most entry-level and mid-range Android devices sold locally including Itel, Infinix, Xiaomi, and Samsung, ship in devices with the USB Type-C ports and detachable cables.
