Kenyans in last-minute rush to beat SIM registration deadline

With barely nine days left to the switching off of unregistered Sim Card lines, Kenyans in their classic norm are in the last-minute rush to beat the registration deadline.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) directed that anyone who fails to register their SIM cards for Safaricom, Telcom and Airtel by April 15, 2022, risks having their lines being switched off indefinitely.

As witnessed across the country, mobile telco outlets have in recent days been witnessing huge crowds lining up to get registered.

The move which is centred on streamlining communication by eradicating cybercrime issues and digital fraudsters has been made a mandatory requirement by the CA.

This comes after several failed attempts by the Authority to enforce the requirement and switch off unregistered lines in 2012 and 2018.

The Communications Authority has reiterated that contrary to previous notices where the government later gave additional dates for registration, there will be no extension this time around.

“There would be no extension so those still dragging their feet should wake up to the reality and register with their respective telecom service providers or face permanent deactivation," CA Director General reportedly said.

The current registration requires mobile users to present a includes a photo ID, which was not a necessity in the past where one only needed an ID card.