Katiba Institute has sued the Kenya Communications Authority, the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Attorney General over what the institute call blatant violation of human rights.
In the petition Katiba Institute is challenging a new directive requiring passengers entering Kenya to declare the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of any mobile devices they intend to use while in the country.
The new directive was introduce by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on November 5, 2024.
However, in its petition, the Institute argues that the mandatory disclosure of IMEI numbers poses a significant risk to individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms.
Thye contends that this requirement could enable unwarranted state surveillance.
“When combined with additional personal information, such as names or flight and customs details, IMEI numbers can be used to identify individuals and thus constitute personal data,” the petition reads.
Katiba Institute warns of the potential dangers of collecting IMEI numbers without proper oversight, emphasizing the urgency to halt what it describes as a “terrible trend.”
