Kenyan Refugees Urged to Re-Register SIM Cards Under New Regulations
NAIROBI, Kenya – June 12, 2025 – The Department of Refugee Services (DRS) has issued an urgent directive to all refugees residing in Kenya, mandating the immediate re-registration of mobile phone SIM cards that were initially registered using borrowed Kenyan identification documents. This comes as new telecommunication regulations aim to formalize SIM card ownership for the refugee population.
The move follows the recent gazettement of the Information and Communications (Registration of Telecommunications Service Subscribers) Regulations, 2025. Under these new rules, specifically Regulation 9, the practice of proxy registration – where a SIM card is registered under someone else’s ID – is now deemed a violation and is prohibited.
Crucially, Legal Notice No. 90, gazetted on May 30, 2025 ( The full text of the legal notice can be accessed through the Official Kenya Gazette ), now officially empowers refugees to own, register, and operate their own SIM cards by using their Refugee Identity Cards. This development provides a legal pathway for refugees to comply with the new regulations and ensures they have official access to mobile communication services.
The DRS today on their official Facebook page has emphasized the necessity of immediate action from all affected refugees to ensure compliance with these updated laws. This measure is part of broader efforts to streamline telecommunications services and enhance security within the country’s digital landscape.
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