Kenyans are scrambling to register their SIM cards before the deadline of April 15.
Long lines were seen in a number of registration centres across the country with only nine days until the deadline.
Unregistered SIM cards will be deleted in Kenya by April 15 as the government ramps up its anti-crime efforts and improves data accuracy.
Crowds gathered at multiple registration centres in Nakuru as telco agents accelerated the data update procedure.
All mobile network operators have previously been asked by the Communications Authority (CA) to speed up the data cleansing process, with no further time being added.
Following similar attempts in 2012 and 2018, the regulator has set a deadline to turn off SIM cards for the third time in a decade.
According to the authority, cell operators and consumers had ample time in 2018 to complete the cleansing exercise requested by them.
According to the authority, this has been an ongoing process over the past few years, and the planned switch-off follows an audit that revealed flaws in mobile network operators’ adherence to SIM card registration regulations.
Subscribers who have had their SIM cards for more than 10 years should contact their suppliers and get their data updated, according to the agency. According to the research, most operators have demonstrated exceptional compliance during the last four years.
“Protecting consumers and the wider public against criminal elements who take advantage of a SIM registration flaw is unnecessary.” “Fraudsters have taken advantage of many people,” CA said in a statement.
During a data cleanup exercise in 2012, 80% of SIM cards were registered, with six million that were not correctly documented being blocked.
Because of competing interests, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) (now CA) accused several operators of negligence.