The government intends to reissue licenses for all internet cafés in Kenya and implement new regulations, which it claims are aimed at enhancing oversight and promoting the development of the local ICT sector.
At present, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) issues licenses to cybercafés under the Public Communication Access Centre (PCAC) classification.
In recent proposals released in December, the CA highlights the government’s plan to establish free public Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Kenya via the ICT Authority. It also notes the existence of a significant number of entities operating as cybercafés nationwide, which present regulatory challenges similar to those associated with the standard vendor license category.
In its Review of the Telecommunications Market Structure 2024, the communications regulator suggests that PCACs offering internet browsing services should be licensed under the ‘Internet Cafés’ category.
These cafés will be mandated to implement various requirements, including logging-in software that tracks events, actions, and messages during program operation, as well as CCTV surveillance on their premises.
“This license will be reinstated as a CLASS License, with terms and conditions established by the authority, including stipulations for record keeping, logging-in software, CCTV monitoring, and identification of individuals accessing the service point or facility,” states the CA.
President William Ruto’s administration aims to deploy 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, create 1,450 ‘Digital Village Smart Hubs and Studios,’ and establish three data centers as part of its ‘National Digital Superhighway Programme.’
“The current review seeks to eliminate specific market barriers identified over time, aligning with the authority’s mission to facilitate effective regulation,” the CA further explains.
Cybercafé usage was prevalent in the 2010s among tech-savvy Kenyans for internet access and services such as document processing. However, their popularity has significantly waned due to the rise in internet accessibility in both urban and rural regions.
