Chiloba warns against politicizing Sim Card registration process

Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Ezra Chiloba has warned against what he terms as politicization of the ongoing exercise to validate Sim Card Registration.

According to Chiloba, the exercise is aimed at curbing breaches of the law governing Sim Card registration and to allow telecommunications operators to update their records of subscribers.

His sentiments come amidst concerns by a section of Kenyans who are accusing the government agency of failing to justify the need to register already listed Sim Cards.

In the last few days, telecommunication companies have experienced long queues at their outlets countrywide as Kenyans rush to beat the deadline of registering their Sim Cards.

The Communications Authority of Kenya had set April 15^th as the last day for subscribers of different mobile phone networks to validate registration of their SIM Cards warning of a fine of up to Ksh 300,000 Kenyan or a six-months jail term for non-compliance.

According to the Commission’s Director General Ezra Chiloba, an inspection by the commission done in March 2021 revealed several breaches in the law governing Sim Card Registration in the Country.

Chiloba says that while a USSD code *106# can be used to verify registration, to ensure full compliance subscribers are still expected to deposit all the relevant identification documents which Mobile Network Operators will need to update their records.

The move has already raised several legal questions with a petitioner moving to court to challenge the exercise terming it unconstitutional.

This even as Garissa Township Member of Parliament Aden Duale claims that the move is a plot to interfere with internet connection in the country during the upcoming general elections.

Chiloba was quick to warn against politicizing the process which he insists is meant to ensure customer protection.

Five days to the deadline, the operators remain optimistic they will achieve 100% compliance.