Gov't Sets New Rules for Deactivation and Recycling of Inactive SIM Cards

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has introduced new procedures and technical safeguards governing the deactivation and recycling of inactive SIM cards. 

Appearing before the Public Petitions Committee at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, October 6, CA CEO and Director General David Mugonyi assured mobile phone subscribers that adequate measures are in place to ensure they are notified before their inactive SIM cards are deactivated and their mobile numbers subsequently reallocated.

He said the Authority had developed procedures and technical safeguards to regulate the deactivation and recycling of inactive mobile numbers.

Mugonyi said the Procedures and Technical Safeguards for Deactivation and Recycling of Inactive Mobile Numbers, 2026, require all SIM card service providers to use all available contacts contained in their subscriber databases, as collected during the Know Your Customer (KYC) registration process.

The procedures require service providers to contact subscribers whose numbers have remained inactive continuously for more than three months. 

The notification process is carried out for three months before the numbers become eligible for deactivation and eventual recycling. 

He said the guidelines further require all mobile service providers to issue a generic public notice informing the public of their intention to deactivate and recycle numbers that have remained inactive for more than six months.

"The notice includes a USSD means for all members of the public to check the status of their numbers in case they are among those affected, in cases where they may not be sure," he said.

At the same time, CAK has also established special provisions for subscribers who may be unable to use their SIM cards for extended periods because of circumstances such as prolonged illness, imprisonment, travel or other forms of incapacity.

According to Mugonyi, a subscriber or a person legally authorised to act on their behalf can request that a number be whitelisted where it is anticipated that the subscriber will be unable to use the number for more than six months.

"For prisoners, the guidelines require the commissioner of prisons to write to service providers, notifying them to whitelist numbers belonging to inmates who are incarcerated for more than six months," he stated.

Mugonyi further noted that some customers and registration agents do not always provide or insist on collecting all the required information.

"When it comes to SIM registration, we have very elaborate regulations and the Act also in place to guide that. So when registering for a SIM card, you are asked several questions by the person registering. But because of the resistant nature of some of us, people evade certain critical questions," he further said.

Mugonyi said registration agents also contributed to the challenge by failing to insist on collecting alternative contact details.

"The people selling also contribute to the challenge. Because of their rush to make money, they do not insist on getting these important details like alternative contact numbers, email address or any other source of contact in case of death. So it is our own nature that sometimes works against us, but we have the structures in place," he said.