M-pesa, Zap users spared registration

The government has asked the operators to register their subscribers in a bid to reduce crime.

The exercise continues until end of next month, after which the unregistered lines can be deactivated.

Dealer outlets

There are about 10 million subscribers on Safaricom’s M-pesa while Zain’s Zap has close to half a million registered users.

This means that out of a total subscriber base of more than 15 million, only about five million are required to register under the presidential directive.

Safaricom is registering people at its retail centres, dealer outlets, and M-pesa agents across the country.

Other mobile operators are Telkom Kenya (Orange) and Essar (Yu).

Under the new rules, users are required to give postal and physical addresses, date of birth and alternative phone numbers, names and identity card numbers.

Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph said the telco had put in place “all the necessary measures to ensure a smooth [registration] process.”

He added: “Subscribers can also download the registration forms from our website, print it, and present the completed form at any of our registration centres.”

He urged users not to wait until the last minute to register, perhaps drawing experience from similar exercises like voter registration that witness busy last days.

Michael Okwiri, Zain Kenya’s communications director, said the company’s post-paid and money transfer subscribers are already registered and need not repeat.

Subscribers who may be holding other SIM cards not registered under Zap or post-paid services, will have to register the extra lines, he said.

Because of many products, consumers have been buying more than one SIM card to benefit from offers that come at particular hours of the day.

Minors with SIM cards will register through adults, who will be taken as the owners of the cards.

Free exercise

The registration is free of charge. A week ago, market regulator Communications Commission of Kenya in collaboration with the four mobile operators launched the campaign.

This follows a presidential directive issued last July following widespread crime, which was seen to be coordinated through phones and the suspects going scot-free.

Because the SIM cards cost as low as Sh20, criminals could easily destroy the lines after use.

It is expected that the registration of the SIM cards will act as a deterrent while making criminal investigations easier.

Mobile phone use has grown in leaps and bounds, especially with the cut-throat competition in the market, occasioning rollout of new products.