Telecom Regulator Launches SMS Tool That Tracks SIM Cards Tied to Your ID

Kenyans will soon text a simple short code with their ID number to instantly see every SIM card registered in their name across all phone networks, helping stop scammers who steal identities for fraud.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) just launched a tender for a nationwide “ID-to-SIM checker” system.

Currently, you can dial *106# on Safaricom or Airtel lines to check if other numbers have been registered under your credentilas butonly under the respective network provider.

However, with the new development, sending your National ID or passport via SMS to one short code scans databases from Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, Equitel, Faiba, Etc, all the network providers at once.​

You’ll get back a single message listing every linked number, grouped by network, like “Safaricom: 0722xxx; Airtel: 0733xxx.”

It’s built for speed (5,000 checks per minute), cloud-based for reliability, and uses encryption plus data masking (showing partial numbers like 0722***123) to keep info safe.

CA staff get a web dashboard to watch usage and spot issues.

Kenya has over 65 million active mobile subscriptions, which is way more than the number of adults, attributed to people owning or registering multiple SIMs.

But fraudsters exploit this, grabbing IDs to register secret lines for scams, M-Pesa thefts, or bank hacks.

According to the tender documents, the CA intends the service to help citizens identify SIM cards that may have been registered in their names without their knowledge or consent.

The regulator says the tool is designed to empower consumers, strengthen accountability among operators, and enhance trust in Kenya’s digital communications ecosystem.

The move comes amid a broader clampdown on SIM misuse in Kenya.

In recent years, the CA has intensified audits of SIM registration processes and directed operators to deactivate improperly registered lines following findings of non-compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.

Operators such as Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Telkom Kenya have all been affected by these enforcement actions.

Instead of relying solely on telecom operators, individuals will be able to independently audit their mobile identity in seconds and take action if they spot unauthorised numbers linked to their ID.

The authority expects to launch the service later this year, once procurement and system integration are complete. Tender bidding closes on March 11.