Kenya’s Communications Authority is considering ending SIM card registration through mobile money agents and requiring mobile network operators to handle the process directly, as the government moves to tighten the collection of subscriber information.
Communications Authority of Kenya Chief Executive Officer David Mugonyi disclosed the proposal while appearing before Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday.
Mugonyi said the proposed shift was among measures being considered to address gaps in the information collected when new SIM cards are registered.
Under the current system, agents selling mobile services are involved in registering subscribers. However, the CA says some agents fail to insist on the collection of important information, including alternative telephone numbers and email addresses.
Mugonyi said incomplete registration details could make it difficult for mobile operators or authorities to contact subscribers or their authorised representatives when necessary.
“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.
He also blamed some agents for contributing to the problem, saying the pressure to complete transactions and make sales sometimes leads them to overlook important details.
“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,” Mugonyi said.
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The proposal comes as Kenya strengthens safeguards around mobile numbers, which have become increasingly important as digital identities linked to mobile money, banking, government services and other online platforms.
The CA has also introduced new procedures governing the deactivation and recycling of mobile numbers that remain unused for extended periods.
Under the 2026 Procedures and Technical Safeguards for Deactivation and Recycling of Inactive Mobile Numbers, mobile operators must attempt to contact subscribers whose numbers have been inactive for more than three months using the contact details provided during registration.
The notification process is expected to continue for three months before a number becomes eligible for deactivation and eventual recycling.
Operators must also issue a public notice before deactivating and recycling numbers that have remained inactive for more than six months. The notice must provide a USSD facility through which members of the public can check whether their numbers are at risk of being deactivated.
The rules provide exceptions for subscribers who may be unable to use their numbers for prolonged periods because of circumstances such as illness, imprisonment, travel or other forms of incapacity.
Prisoners serving sentences of more than six months can have their numbers whitelisted after the Commissioner of Prisons notifies the relevant mobile service providers.
The safeguards are aimed at preventing subscribers from unexpectedly losing numbers that may be connected to financial accounts and other essential digital services.
The measures also follow a court ruling that recognised mobile numbers as personal digital identities and called for safeguards to protect subscribers from losing access to accounts and services linked to their numbers.
If adopted, the proposed direct-registration model would give mobile network operators greater control over the collection and verification of subscriber information while reducing the role of agents in the SIM registration process.
The CA has not indicated when the proposal could take effect or whether SIM registration through agents would be completely discontinued. Further consultations and regulatory decisions are expected before any changes are implemented.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
