New Update on SIM Card Registration

According to Communication Authority Director-General Ezra Chiloba, the rule only applies to people who have unregistered sim cards. Chiloba and his team's U-turn came just two days after he issued a warning that Kenyans who did not re-register their sim cards would face a Ksh300,000 fine or six months in prison.

Chiloba has set April 15 as the deadline for re-registering SIM cards.

Kenyans who got SIM cards in 2021 were also required to re-register. CA indicated that it sought to reduce illicit dual or multiple SIM registrations.
Following the CA threats, Kenyans expressed their displeasure, accusing the Communications Authority of neglecting to explain why they should register previously registered sim cards.

Eliud Karanja filed a case in the High Court, requesting that the authorities be banned from carrying out the exercise, which drew widespread outrage.

“A declaration that the Directive from the 1st Respondent for the 1st and 2nd Respondents and the Interested Party to carry out fresh registration of their existing and already registered mobile telephone service subscribers is unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void,” the petition read in part.

Former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi had also vowed to sue Communication Authority.

"I acknowledge a text to update my SIM Card registration to avoid disconnection. You have my ID Card with which the SIM Card was registered. I will take legal action against you, should my line be disconnected," he stated.

CA Director-general, Chiloba has further clarified that only unregistered lines to be listed, check status on *106#