Kenyans on Twitter (KoT) are protesting the re-registration of SIM Cards.
The online protests have been increasing even as the deadline approaches.
A new warning by the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) that those that fail to register their details by 15th April 2022, would be jailed or fined Sh300,000 irked KoT more.
Many condemned CA CEO Ezra Chiloba for being ‘in charge of a process that seeks to onboard Kenyans into illegality where pictures and other details are recorded’.
The government through the KICA Act requires proper SIM card registrations. There’s no part of the KICA that asks the telecommunication firm, Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom to collect pictures of their clients.
A Kenyan, Mr Eliud Karanja Matindi, has already moved to court to protest the inclusion of photos and re-registration of those whose details are correct in the system.
According to the activist, the directive from the CA is unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void and any collection, processing, and retention of photographs by mobile telephone service operators are unconstitutional.
“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 are unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void,” he said in an affidavit.
Below are some thoughts from KoT
Kenyan Business Feed is the top Kenyan Business Blog. We share news from Kenya and across the region. To contact us with any alert, please email us to [email protected]