Mobile phone importers and dealers in Kenya face disruptions and losses after the government abruptly banned the sale of phones and tablets without USB Type-C charging ports, effectively outlawing low-end feature phones and older-generation smartphones.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) announced the ban in a Tuesday public notice, saying it is meant to standardise charging technology and reduce electronic waste. But while Kenya seeks to align with a growing global push on common chargers, it did not provide a transition period, unlike other markets that enforced similar rules in phases.
The CA told the Business Daily that the regulations already took effect on Tuesday.
“The specifications for mobile cellular devices in Kenya become effective on the date of publication, which is March 24, 2026,” a CA spokesperson said via email.
“These specifications form the basis for the type approval of mobile phones in Kenya. Devices that do not comply will not be allowed into the country.”
This has set the stage for confusion among importers with existing shipments, as the new law replacing the 2018 technical specifications applies to vendors, manufacturers, assemblers, and buyers. It also opens the door for enforcement action, giving authorities grounds to prosecute traders found selling non-compliant devices.
In contrast, the European Union Common Charger Directive, on which Kenya’s rules are modelled, provided manufacturers with a 24-month transition period to adjust.
While locally assembled smartphone models largely comply with USB-C requirements, the directive disproportionately affects importers of low-cost feature phones, commonly known as ‘kabambe’, which typically rely on Micro USB charging.
It also locks out older devices such as pre-2023 Apple iPhones and earlier iPads that used the proprietary Lightning port before shifting to USB-C to comply with EU legislation.
The CA warned that traders found selling non-compliant devices will be in breach of the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA), exposing them to fines running into millions of shillings and possible jail terms.
“Anyone found selling non-type-approved mobile devices will contravene the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA), Cap. 411 of the Laws of Kenya (as amended),” the spokesperson said.
The EU’s common charger rule took effect in December 2024 after approval by the European Council and Parliament in October 2022. It requires all new smartphones, tablets, headphones, and gaming consoles sold in the 27-member bloc to support USB Type-C charging.
Nokia phone models are displayed for sale along with smartphones.
Photo credit: Reuters
The policy aims to cut electronic waste, reduce the number of chargers consumers need to buy, and improve convenience by allowing a single charger to be used across multiple devices regardless of brand. The EU has set April 2026 as the USB-C compliance date for laptops.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia is rolling out a phased USB-C mandate for tablets and phones from 2025, extending to laptops by April 2026.
India is on a similar regulatory path, though the country’s compliance deadline for laptops is until the end of 2026.
The CA did not rule out the possibility of extending the USB-C mandate to laptops in the future. The CA spokesperson said the watchdog “may develop comprehensive technical requirements for laptops and other ICT devices in the future, based on technological evolution.”
Type-C or USB-C charging is a modern charging standard whose connector can be plugged in either way up and delivers high power up to 240 watts and fast data transfer up to 40 Gigabits per second across devices like phones, laptops, and tablets. It is becoming the global industry standard, replacing older connectors such as Micro-USB and USB-A.
Beyond charging, Kenya’s new guidelines introduce minimum performance and safety thresholds for devices entering the market. Mobile phone and tablet batteries must support at least eight hours of talk time and 24 hours of standby time.
Power plugs must also comply with the local three-pin ‘Type G’ wall socket standard or include compatible adapters.
“Where the device is sold with a power plug that is not 3-pin, an adapter to convert the non-3-pin to 3-pin shall be included,” the regulations say.
The authority has also introduced mandatory accessibility standards; phones and tablets must now have screen readers, text-to-speech functionality, real-time captioning, and compatibility with assistive technologies to support users with visual, hearing, speech, and mobility impairments.
The CA said it seeks to improve safety, interoperability, and environmental sustainability in the mobile device market.
“These (specifications) aim to minimise e-waste, reduce the cost of chargers for consumers, and harmonise fast-charging standards,” the watchdog said.
