Mobile network operators have been given 60 days within which to ensure all SIM cards are registered.
In a statement on Monday, Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Ezra Chiloba said Safaricom had registered 93 per cent of its SIM cards by the October 15 deadline.
He said Airtel was at 81.2 per cent while the status of Telkom Kenya was still under review.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the 60 days is not an extension, but a period for the mobile operators to take certain actions including denial of service to prompt further compliance," Chiloba said.
"Each operator is under obligation to ensure 100 per cent compliance," he affirmed.
The operators are required to continue denying service and eventually deactivate all unduly registered SIM cards.
Upon deactivation, services to be affected include voice, SMS, data and mobile banking.
Chiloba said the Authority will undertake a compliance audit to ascertain the level of compliance.
"Any mobile operator found non-compliant shall be liable to regulatory measures including a penalty of up to 0.5 per cent of their Annual Gross Turnover," he added.
On October 15, mobile operators deactivated the SIM cards that did not meet the registration directive.
The action was taken six months after the CA gave Kenyans additional time to have their SIMs registered.
Chiloba said the registration is vital in protecting telecommunication services consumers.
He added that it also helps enhance confidence in the use of ICTs which are now at the centre of the country’s digital transformation agenda.
He said the CA will hold further consultations with key policy and industry players on future policy, legal and regulatory interventions that will ensure more efficient, effective, and transparent process of enlisting subscribers of telecommunication and ICT services.
