TELCOS/BANKS TOLD TO USE GOVT MASTER REGISTER OR ELSE...

No Mobile money operator or Bank will be allowed to open any new accounts or register anyone on a SIM card or for a service without checking their names against the Government register of names, new rules to come into effect dictate.

To aid in Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism AML/CFT rules, all such bodies will be required to ensure the person seeking a service is duly registered with the government failure to which that service may be suspended or terminated altogether.

Delivering the tough message, the Head of the National Payments Systems at the Central Bank of Kenya said the AML/CFT rules were being tightened to prevent use of SIM cards and other services to commit/abet or facilitate acts of terror.

Government is working on the single identification number for all its citizens from birth, the Integrated Personnel Registry System (IPRS).

It is thought that it is this IPRS that telcos/banks will need to reference to when registering new users.

Additionally it is expected that they will verify their current users from the same registry.