Role of Communications Authority in Consumer Protection

The Communications Authority of Kenya is a regulatory body established by an Act of parliament to regulate the provision of telecommunications, radio communications, postal and courier services in Kenya. The authority is responsible to all consumers, while its involvement with the providers of such services governed by its commitment to protect consumer’s interests.

The communications authority of Kenya can protect consumers in many ways, by ensuring all service providers follow the conditions given in their licenses. The authority under Kenya Information Communications Act (KICA), 1998 has statutory powers to levy fines or exact penalties from any service provider that does not abide by the conditions outlined by the authority.

The authority ensures delivery of optimum service. It has invested in a state of the art quality of services, measurement and monitoring system for mobile networks.

In the interest of optimum performance of the radio frequency program, the authority monitors radio frequencies to ensure that consumers never suffer from interference and disruption of services.

Third generation technology is the newest and most innovative communication today. Third generation (3G) mobile phone and network offer high data transfer rates, wide bandwidth and increased capacity required to support the new range of mobile cellular services,Internet,applications,online gaming among others.

It has also lowered the rate of telecommunication charges, and provided easy to follow tariff tables and guides to enable consumers to compare and contrast various tariffs available at the authority’s website.

The authority is compiling a definitive ‘National Code of Practice’ to address safety to the telecommunication infrastructure and also empowering consumers through a nationwide Consumer Education Program with the aim of offering consumers with  current information on many aspects of the communications industry.