Government of Kenya is set to switch off millions of imported mobile phones over new Kenya Revenue Authority KRA regulations.
In a Notice shared from the Communication Authority of Kenya today Thursday October 24, sellers of phones that are not compliant will lose the gadgets when switched off over taxes.
All businessmen in Kenya bringing in the phones are, therefore, asked to comply with the directive by November 1.
”Operators will also be required to provide for the gray-listing of non-compliant devices to facilitate regularization within a prescribed period, failure to which the devices will thereafter be blacklisted,’’ the Notice read.
The latest directive will only apply to all devices imported or assembled in the country beginning November 1, this year. Devices that will already be on the mobile networks by October 31 will not be affected.
The authority announced that all local phone assemblers had to upload the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number of each assembled device to the taxation database, to enable the government track sales.
Additionally, the regulator directed all mobile phone importers to ensure that they disclose IMEI numbers of all devices that they plan to import. Further, CA reminded importers that the directive was a mandatory practice in exercise of government policies.
