Kenyan Government Mulls Mandatory Registration of All Mobiles
The new Kenyan government is considering a move to require all mobile phone subscribers to register their identities with network operators. The move, proposed in a private members bill by Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, is reportedly in response to threats sent by SMS during the recent post-election violence in the country. MPs are supporting the move, which would require an amendment to the Kenya Communications Action Order.
Significance: In other countries where a similar requirement has been introduced, the move resulted in a drop in the declared subscriber base as some customers with multiple SIM cards would register with only one operator. This may also happen in Kenya if implemented. Safaricom in particular has refused to divulge how many of its subscribers are active, saying that it has an internal figure, which even its recent share offering prospectus did not clarify.
