Kenya Reviews Draft ICT Regulations, Including New Type Approval Rules and Network Equipment Specs
09/19/2026
Kenya is in the middle of a big refresh of its ICT rulebook, and two parts of it matter directly to anyone selling communications equipment in the country.
15 draft regulations up for validation
From 15 to 17 September 2026, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, together with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), held a virtual validation forum on the revised draft Kenya Information and Communication Regulations, 2026. Fifteen sets of regulations were covered, including:
- Type Approval of Electronic Communications Equipment
- Radiocommunication and Frequency Spectrum
- Licensing, numbering, consumer protection, and compliance and enforcement
This follows an earlier validation round in May 2026. The drafts are published on the Ministry's website, but the outcome of the September forum and a date for the final regulations haven't been announced yet.
New technical specs for network equipment, with comments due 30 September
Separately, CA has published draft Technical Specifications for Network Equipment, 2026 (CA.TS.520:2026) for consultation. The document is meant to guide type approval of switches, routers, firewalls, gateways, servers, network cards and session border controllers.
A few requirements stand out:
- IPv6 support, in line with Kenya's IPv4-to-IPv6 migration plans
- Security features such as access control lists, intrusion detection and prevention, and up-to-date IPSec, TLS and SSH
- Safety to IEC 62368-1, EMC limits, and RoHS restrictions on lead, mercury and cadmium
- A Digital Product Passport accessible by QR code, NFC or similar, plus a rule that imported equipment must have at least three years of life left
Comments can be sent to specifications@ca.go.ke until 30 September 2026. The effective date is still listed as to be confirmed.
What vendors should do now
If you make or import network equipment for Kenya, read the draft specs and check how your products measure up, especially the digital product passport and remaining-lifespan rules, which are new. It's also worth remembering that since July 2026, CA requires anyone importing or distributing communications equipment to hold a Communications Equipment Distributor licence.
We'll keep an eye on the final regulations. In the meantime, our Kenya CA type approval guide covers the current process.
Sources: CA: revised KICA regulations, Ministry of ICT draft documents, CA open consultations, Techweez.