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The Kenyan government Friday, November 8th backed down from a plan that would have required all travelers entering the country to declare the unique identifiers of their mobile devices at the border, following a wave of public concern and calls for clarity on data privacy.
Originally slated for January 2025, the policy—introduced by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)—sought to crack down on the use of unregistered devices, which often slip through taxation and safety compliance checks.
The reversal came after significant feedback from various sectors, prompting a high-level review. Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced the decision, adding that Kenya is committed to maintaining open borders for international visitors. “Kenya is the gateway to East Africa, and our tourism and business hubs must stay accessible. Tourists will not be required to declare the IMEI numbers of their devices upon arrival,” Miano stated.
The initial announcement had drawn scrutiny, particularly from lawmakers in the National Assembly’s Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation. Committee members questioned KRA and the Communications Authority (CA) on potential privacy infringements, expressing concerns that tracking IMEI numbers—unique codes assigned to every mobile device—could risk exposing personal data or encroach on privacy under the guise of regulation. In a heated session, Communications Authority Director-General David Mugonyi assured that privacy would be protected, explaining that the policy aimed only to ensure compliance with safety and tax regulations.
“This is purely about identifying legitimate devices and ensuring compliance with safety and tax laws,” Mugonyi clarified. “We are not interested in people’s personal data or phone activities. This measure was intended only to regulate devices entering the country and nothing more.”
Before the policy was halted, the government had discussed an alternative that would place tourists on a “greylist,” giving them a temporary grace period to comply with the rule. However, tourism stakeholders argued that this could deter visitors and create confusion, especially among those transiting through Kenya or staying for short visits.
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