By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 29 April 2026 - A new legal challenge has been filed against Safaricom PLC, raising fresh concerns over SIM card recycling and the protection of customer data, in a case that could test the boundaries of digital privacy in Kenya.
The petition, filed by Elias Wanjala Wekesa, accuses the telecommunications giant of reassigning his previously registered mobile number to another user, exposing sensitive personal and financial information linked to his account.
According to court filings, the number had been tied to his M-Pesa account and other private records, raising fears of potential misuse once it was reassigned.
Wekesa argues that the recycling of the SIM card effectively handed over access to elements of his digital identity to a third party, creating risks that go beyond inconvenience to include financial exposure and possible fraud.
The case now places Safaricom at the centre of a growing legal and regulatory debate over how telecom operators handle dormant lines.
The dispute comes at a critical moment, just weeks after the High Court issued a landmark ruling declaring that mobile phone numbers are part of an individual’s digital identity and are protected under the right to privacy.
The court held that telecom companies must obtain user consent or follow a clear legal process before reassigning inactive numbers.
That ruling fundamentally shifted how SIM card recycling is viewed in law, elevating it from a routine operational practice to a constitutional issue tied to privacy and data protection.
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In his petition, Wekesa is expected to rely on these emerging legal standards, arguing that the reassignment of his number without adequate safeguards violated his constitutional rights and exposed him to risk.
The case could also reopen broader questions about accountability within Kenya’s fast-growing digital economy, where mobile numbers are increasingly linked to banking, identification, and everyday transactions.
For Safaricom, the case adds to mounting scrutiny over customer data protection and SIM-related vulnerabilities, particularly in a market where mobile numbers serve as gateways to financial services through platforms like M-Pesa.
The court is now expected to determine whether the telecom operator followed due process in reallocating the number, and more broadly, whether existing safeguards are sufficient to protect millions of users whose digital identities are tied to their mobile lines.
At its core, the case is no longer just about one recycled SIM card. It is about who owns a mobile number, and what happens when that ownership is reassigned in an economy where a phone line is no longer just a communication tool, but a financial and personal identity.
Petitioner Challenges Safaricom Over Recycled SIM Card in Court
The petitioner argues that reassigning his mobile number exposed sensitive personal and financial information linked to his account.