By MOSES NJAGIH
NAIROBI, KENYA: Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has allayed fears over delayed renewal of Safaricom’s operational licence, indicating that it would be renewed.
However, while disclosing that Safaricom’s licence expires at the end of June, Matiang’i said the country’s largest mobile telephone operator must first meet the requirements set for it by the sector regulator, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), before it can be allowed to continue operating.
But when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology, Matiang’i expressed optimism that the issues standing in the way of the licence renewal would be addressed before the expiry date.
He claimed there were forces inciting Kenyans over the delays, saying Safaricom only needed to meet the conditions set by CAK and everything else would be settled.
“The renewal of a licence is a process, but it is not a right. The regulator has requested the service provider to meet some requirements and fulfil certain conditions and everything will be sorted,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
He added: “Someone has been alarming the public for no reason.”