The Number You Can’t Leave: Why Kenya Must Revive the Forgotten Promise of Mobile Portability

Your phone number in Kenya is more than just a string of digits; it’s your digital identity. It’s your mobile money account (M-PESA, Airtel Money), your business contact, your link to family, and the key to your entire online life. This reality has created a powerful, invisible cage for millions of mobile subscribers, a phenomenon often called “network lock-in.” While a solution has existed on paper for over a decade, its failure in practice is costing consumers dearly and stifling true competition in one of Africa’s most dynamic digital economies.

The solution is Mobile Number Portability (MNP)—the right for a consumer to switch from one mobile operator to another (e.g., from Safaricom to Airtel or Telkom) while keeping their existing phone number. Kenya officially launched MNP back in 2011 with the goal of empowering consumers and fueling competition. Over a decade later, the initiative is widely regarded as a failure, with porting numbers abysmally low.

It’s time to ask why this powerful consumer right has been left to wither, and why regulators and operators, especially the dominant player Safaricom, must now champion its revival.

A Brief, Troubled History of MNP in Kenya

When MNP was introduced, the vision was clear: to give consumers ultimate choice. If you were unhappy with your network’s call quality, data speeds, or customer service, you could simply “port” your number to a rival network without the immense hassle of informing your entire contact list of a new number.

The launch, however, was immediately fraught with challenges. The process was cumbersome and quickly descended into a public feud between operators. Safaricom argued that the system was rushed, having been implemented after only a single week of technical testing, far short of the global benchmark of six to eight weeks. This, they claimed, led to inevitable “teething problems.”

Accusations of sabotage flew. Rival networks accused the dominant player, Safaricom, of erecting technical blockades to frustrate subscribers trying to leave. In a counter-offensive, Safaricom publicly accused the MNP administrator, Porting Access, of abdicating its role as a neutral party and “actively batting from the corner” of its competitor, Airtel. Safaricom even initiated legal proceedings against Porting Access for alleged defamation and economic sabotage. This deeply contentious start, marred by technical unpreparedness and a lack of trust among the key players, ensured MNP never gained traction. The initial KES 200 porting fee (which has since been scrapped) and a general lack of public awareness further contributed to its low uptake.

Today, most Kenyan subscribers are likely unaware that MNP is even an option. This collective amnesia benefits the status quo and harms the consumer.

The High Cost of Staying Put: Why MNP is More Critical Than Ever

In 2025, the arguments for a fully functional MNP system are stronger than ever. The “cost” of changing your number has skyrocketed, making true consumer choice a myth.

1. The M-PESA Factor and Financial Lock-In: Your Safaricom number is, for most Kenyans, your de facto bank account. The thought of losing your M-PESA history, your linked bank accounts, and your entire financial identity is a powerful deterrent to switching, even if a competitor offers better value on calls or data. This creates a significant competitive moat for Safaricom that has less to do with service quality and more to do with logistical inconvenience.
2. Stagnant Competition and Pricing: Without the real threat of customers easily switching networks, the incentive for operators to compete aggressively on price, quality, and innovation diminishes. A dominant player has less reason to lower its prices or drastically improve its services if its customers are effectively captive. Revitalizing MNP would force all operators, including Safaricom, to work harder and offer more value to retain customers, not just acquire them.
3. The Digital Identity Barrier: Beyond finance, our numbers are tied to everything from WhatsApp groups and social media verification to government e-Citizen services. The “club effect” is real; losing your number means being cut off from your digital communities. This barrier disproportionately benefits the largest network, further cementing its market position.

What a Functional MNP System Looks Like

Looking at countries where MNP has been successfully implemented provides a clear blueprint. In many parts of Europe and Asia, and even in African nations like South Africa and Ghana, porting is a simple, quick, and often free process. The standard model involves:

• A “Recipient-Led” Process: The customer only deals with the new network they wish to join. That new operator handles the entire porting process with the old network behind the scenes.
• Quick Turnaround Times: Porting should ideally take a few hours at most, not days or weeks.
• No Flimsy Excuses: Operators are barred from preventing a port due to outstanding airtime loans or other minor debts, though legitimate contractual obligations may apply.

The Path Forward: A Call to Action for Regulators and Telcos

Reviving MNP in Kenya requires a concerted effort from both the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the mobile network operators themselves.

• For the Communications Authority (CA):
  • Launch a Massive Public Awareness Campaign: Most Kenyans simply do not know they have this right. The CA must invest in educating the public about the existence, benefits, and process of MNP.
  • Enforce and Streamline the Process: The CA needs to police the porting process with an iron fist. Any operator found to be deliberately creating technical hurdles or delays must face significant penalties. The process must be simplified to a few easy steps, executable from a mobile phone.
  • Mandate Interoperability: Ensure that all related services, especially mobile money, can function seamlessly regardless of the network a ported number is on.
• For Safaricom and Other Telcos:
  • Embrace True Competition: While market leaders may fear losing subscribers in the short term, a competitive market fosters innovation and long-term health for the entire sector. A confident market leader should believe in its ability to retain customers based on the merit of its services, not on the inconvenience of leaving.
  • Shift from Lock-In to Value: Instead of relying on the high switching costs associated with a phone number, telcos should focus on providing superior network quality, innovative products (like tailored data bundles), and excellent customer service that make people want to stay.
  • See the Opportunity: MNP is a two-way street. A simplified porting process also makes it easier for operators to attract dissatisfied customers from their rivals.

Kenya prides itself on being a leader in digital innovation. However, a truly competitive and consumer-centric telecom market cannot exist while subscribers are shackled to their phone numbers. It’s time for the CA and all mobile operators to dust off the forgotten promise of MNP and give Kenyans the freedom of choice they were guaranteed.