John AdoyiFrom January 1, 2025, travellers including tourists and citizens entering Kenya, as well as importers and assemblers of mobile devices, will need to declare the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of devices intended for use within the country.
This new regulation, announced by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on Tuesday, aims to strengthen tax compliance and improve Kenya’s mobile device market.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the announcement, “Passengers entering the territory of Kenya will declare the details and the respective IMEI numbers for their mobile devices intended for use, during their stay in the country at the port of entry.”
For importers and local assemblers, the directive mandates that all imported devices must include detailed records such as precise quantities, model descriptions, and IMEI numbers. Device assemblers will also be required to register on the KRA Customs portal and report all devices designated for the Kenyan market, along with their unique IMEI codes.
IMEI number is a unique 15-digit code that identifies each mobile device globally, providing information on the brand, model, year of release, and other specifications. These unique numbers are stored in the Equipment Identity Register (EIR), a database that tracks all valid mobile devices.
Building a Regulated Mobile Environment
Emphasising the importance of the new initiative, the country’s communication authority said it is “mandatory for the registration of devices in the National Master Database on Tax-Compliant Devices.”
The authority which manages Kenya’s over 63 Million mobile connections, reiterated that the database would help verify each device’s tax compliance status, contributing to a secure and regulated telecommunications environment within Kenya.
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Explaining how the new initiative will be implemented, the communication authority said Mobile network operators will be required to connect devices only after verifying their compliance through a whitelist database managed by the authority. IT further explained that “The new requirement will only apply to all devices imported or assembled in the country from November 1, 2024. All existing devices that will be on the mobile networks by October 31, 2024, will not be affected.”
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To connect devices on Kenya’s networks, mobile operators will rely on this database, confirming compliance before activating devices.
Devices failing to meet the compliance criteria will be subject to restrictions, CA said. Non-compliant devices may be placed on a temporary grey list, providing time for adjustments, or could face permanent blacklisting if compliance is not achieved. KRA stated it will issue further guidance on the registration process for incoming travellers and provide additional compliance details ahead of the January 2025 enforcement.
The authorities urged all importers and stakeholders in the telecommunications sector to familiarise themselves with these new regulations to ensure smooth processing and avoid non-compliance issues.
