Kenya ICT Cabinet Secretary Mr. Joe Mucheru has called for tough measures on enforcement of SIM card registration within the East African Community (EAC) as part of efforts to promote safe use of ICT infrastructure within the region.
Mr.Mucheru said criminals are increasingly misusing ICT infrastructure, including unregistered SIM Cards to perpetrate crimes, including terrorism and kidnaps.
Speaking during the 25th East African Communications Organization (EACO) Assemblies in Nairobi, Mr.Mucheru said mobile network operators must strictly adhere to the SIM card registration to help law enforcement agencies within the region to track down criminals.
Mr.Mucheru also decried the upsurge of misuse of mobile phone device across the region, given that counterfeit devices denied service in one country can still find their way in networks of neighbouring countries.
Mr. Mucheru’s concerns come barely two weeks after the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) directed all mobile operators to deactivate all unregistered or partially unregistered SIM cards within their networks.
East African Communications Organization (EACO) was established foster the growth of ICTs, strengthen and promote cooperation in the development and provision of postal, telecommunications and broadcasting services in the East African Community.
CA chairman Mr.Ngene Gituku called on EACO member states to work closely towards harnessing the potential of ICTs in enhancing access to financial, communication, e-commerce and a host of other services.
In the same vein, CA Director General Mr. Francis Wangusi, who is also the chairman of EACO, said lack of an enforcement mechanism was hampering implementation EACO decisions at the local and regional level.
