DP Ruto weighs in on ongoing sim card registration
By Joshua Cheloti
Deputy President William Ruto has questioned the urgency behind the requirement for Kenyans to register their sim cards.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has directed that all Kenyans must have their lines registered by April 15, 2022, failure to which they risk being disconnected are slapped with hefty fines.
The directive has seen hundreds of Kenyans line up in various telecommunications offices in the hope to beat the Friday dateline.
But as Kenyans rush to get their lines registered, DP Ruto says it is an exercise that can wait, even up to December.
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DP William Ruto issues an address at his official Karen Residence on Monday, April 4, 2022. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter|[/caption]
Speaking during the signing of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition agreement in Nairobi, the DP noted that at a time Kenyans are facing a shortage of fuel, milk and high cost of commodities, it was not right for them to be subjected to long queues in the name of registering their sim cards.
“I appreciate the President has delegated responsibilities to many other people in government but it is right to say there is a crisis. There is a fuel crisis and adding on to the long queues everywhere, even in a simple matter like sim card,” DP Ruto said.
“Our people in CA, we have enough time, what’s the magic about Friday? The registration can wait up to December,” he added.
There have been fears that CA’s decision to ask Kenyans to re-register their sim cards is part of the rigging plan for the upcoming polls.
However, according to Ruto, “if CA is agents of dark forces, they will fail miserably.”
Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Ezra Chiloba recently clarified that not all Kenyans need to register their SIM cards afresh.
Chiloba said only those with unregistered lines are supposed to do so by Friday, April 15, 2022.
“The people targeted are holders of SIM cards that haven’t been registered, or are registered using other people’s identification details, for instance, minors who use their parents’ or guardians’ ID details for registration,” said the CA boss.
According to CA, unregistered SIM cards would be switched off by April 15, and their owners risk being fined up to Sh300,000 or serve a six-month jail term, or both.
DP William Ruto issues an address at his official Karen Residence on Monday, April 4, 2022. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter|[/caption]
Speaking during the signing of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition agreement in Nairobi, the DP noted that at a time Kenyans are facing a shortage of fuel, milk and high cost of commodities, it was not right for them to be subjected to long queues in the name of registering their sim cards.
“I appreciate the President has delegated responsibilities to many other people in government but it is right to say there is a crisis. There is a fuel crisis and adding on to the long queues everywhere, even in a simple matter like sim card,” DP Ruto said.
“Our people in CA, we have enough time, what’s the magic about Friday? The registration can wait up to December,” he added.
There have been fears that CA’s decision to ask Kenyans to re-register their sim cards is part of the rigging plan for the upcoming polls.
However, according to Ruto, “if CA is agents of dark forces, they will fail miserably.”
Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Ezra Chiloba recently clarified that not all Kenyans need to register their SIM cards afresh.
Chiloba said only those with unregistered lines are supposed to do so by Friday, April 15, 2022.
“The people targeted are holders of SIM cards that haven’t been registered, or are registered using other people’s identification details, for instance, minors who use their parents’ or guardians’ ID details for registration,” said the CA boss.
According to CA, unregistered SIM cards would be switched off by April 15, and their owners risk being fined up to Sh300,000 or serve a six-month jail term, or both. What's Your Reaction?
