The Government of Kenya has introduced a new regulatory requirement aimed at strengthening oversight of the country’s telecommunications equipment market, with businesses now required to obtain a Communications Equipment Distributor (CED) Licence before importing or distributing communications equipment.
The new licensing framework was announced by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) in a public notice dated 21st July. The requirement is in line with the Kenya Information and Communications Act (Cap.369) – Revised Telecommunications Market Structure published in accordance with Gazette Notice No.3335 dated 6 March 2026. 411A).
The changes brought in by the revised rules are that all communications equipment importers and distributors must first obtain a CED Licence before applying for equipment type approval and customs clearance via the TradeNet system.
The new requirement applies as well to current market participants. If businesses want to continue importing or distributing communications equipment, they will have to move to the new CED licensing regime from the existing Telecommunications Equipment Contractor (TEC) or Vendor Licence.
The CED Licence complements, rather than replaces, the current equipment type approval process, the Communications Authority said. Meanwhile, companies are still to get certification from the Kenya Technical Standardisation Institute that imported equipment meets the country’s technical standards before products can be cleared at customs.
The regulator has advised both current and new licensees to understand the new market structure and fulfil the new requirements. It warned that penalties under the Kenya Information and Communications Act may be imposed for not getting the proper licence, such as fines of up to US$7,750 and up to three years’ imprisonment.
The introduction of the CED Licence reflects Kenya’s broader efforts to modernise regulatory oversight and enhance compliance across the country’s digital communications ecosystem. As demand for smartphones, broadband services, enterprise networking solutions and other connected technologies continues to grow, authorities are seeking to ensure that communications equipment entering the market meets the country’s technical and regulatory standards while improving accountability throughout the telecommunications supply chain.
