The Communications Authority (CA) is considering proposals to have mobile network operators register SIM cards directly, rather than through agents.
Appearing before the Public Petitions Committee on October 6, CA Chief Executive Officer and Director General David Mugonyi said the proposal is among the measures being considered to address gaps in collecting subscriber information during SIM card registration.
He said some registration agents do not insist on collecting important details such as alternative telephone numbers and email addresses, making it difficult to contact subscribers or their authorized representatives when necessary.
“When it comes to SIM registration, we have very elaborate regulations and the Act also in place to guide that. So when registering for a SIM card, the person registering is asked several questions. But because of the resistant nature of some of us, people evade certain critical questions,” he said.
CA Moves to Tighten SIM Registration as Agents Skip Key Details
Mugonyi said subscribers must provide several details during registration, but some evade questions considered critical, while agents may also fail to insist on complete information.
“The people selling also contribute to the challenge. Because of their rush to make money, they do not insist on getting these important details like alternative contact numbers, email address, or any other source of contact in case of death,” he said.
The issue emerged as the Authority explained safeguards governing the deactivation and recycling of inactive mobile numbers.
How Subscribers Will Be Notified Of SIM Deactivation
Under the Procedures and Technical Safeguards for Deactivation and Recycling of Inactive Mobile Numbers, 2026, service providers must contact subscribers whose numbers have remained inactive for more than three months.
The notification process runs for three months before a number becomes eligible for deactivation and eventual recycling.
Mobile operators must also issue a public notice before deactivating and recycling numbers that have remained inactive for more than six months.
The notice must include a USSD option allowing members of the public to check the status of their numbers.
Also Read: Safaricom Explains How to Reactivate Your Old Inactive SIM Card Before It Is Recycled
CA has also provided for numbers belonging to subscribers who may be unable to use their SIM cards for extended periods because of circumstances including prolonged illness, imprisonment, travel or incapacity to be whitelisted.
For prisoners, the Commissioner of Prisons can write to mobile service providers requesting that numbers belonging to inmates serving more than six months be whitelisted.
“For prisoners, the guidelines require the Commissioner of Prisons to write to service providers, notifying them to whitelist numbers belonging to inmates who are incarcerated for more than six months,” he said.
Also Read: Communications Authority Rolls Out New Specifications for Phones Sold in Kenya
SIM Deactivation Rules
Kenya introduced new 2026 regulations governing the deactivation and recycling of long-inactive mobile numbers.
Under the new rules, mobile numbers had to remain continuously inactive for more than six months before becoming eligible for public notice and eventual recycling.
Mobile network operators were required to attempt to reach subscribers using all registered Know Your Customer (KYC) contact details after three months of continuous inactivity. The notification process was to run for three months before a number could be deactivated and recycled.
Service providers were also required to issue generic public notices and provide a USSD facility through which subscribers could check whether their numbers had been flagged for deactivation.
The measures followed a court ruling that recognized mobile numbers as personal digital identities, with safeguards to prevent subscribers from losing access to financial and other digital accounts linked to their numbers.
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