Chiloba issues new directive on SIM card registration
Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) Director-General Ezra Chiloba has made a U-turn on his earlier directive regarding the registration of SIM cards.
Chiloba now stated that the registration of SIM cards is for only the unregistered mobile lines. The new directive comes days after the CA director-general asked all Kenyans to register their lines afresh.
He had warned that Kenyans who fail to register their SIM cards would be subjected to a Ksh300,000 fine or a period of six months in jail.
Chiloba set April 15 as the deadline for the re-registration of the SIM Cards. Kenyans who had even purchased SIM cards in 2021 were also asked to re-register. CA stated that it aimed at curbing dual or more illegal SIM registrations.
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File image of Communication of Authority of Kenya (CA) Director-General Ezra Chiloba. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
The directive attracted criticism from members of the public who sought an explanation for why they have to re-register already registered SIM cards.
Eliud Karanja, filed a lawsuit at the High Court, seeking to have the authority barred from conducting the exercise which attracted nationwide condemnation.
“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.
Former Law Society of Kenya President, Nelson Havi, had also threatened to file a case against CA.
"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.
"No Kenyan should be inconvenienced or put to unnecessary expense even for Ksh1 by mobile phone services providers," the Westland's MP aspirant tweeted.
Mobile users are required to dial the USD *106# to check the numbers registered under their National Identity cards and report those illegally registered under their names.
File image of Communication of Authority of Kenya (CA) Director-General Ezra Chiloba. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
The directive attracted criticism from members of the public who sought an explanation for why they have to re-register already registered SIM cards.
Eliud Karanja, filed a lawsuit at the High Court, seeking to have the authority barred from conducting the exercise which attracted nationwide condemnation.
“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.
Former Law Society of Kenya President, Nelson Havi, had also threatened to file a case against CA.
"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.
"No Kenyan should be inconvenienced or put to unnecessary expense even for Ksh1 by mobile phone services providers," the Westland's MP aspirant tweeted.
Mobile users are required to dial the USD *106# to check the numbers registered under their National Identity cards and report those illegally registered under their names. What's Your Reaction?
