You could soon only pay for the internet services you have consumed, and not a pre-determined price set by service providers, if a new Bill currently before the House is passed into law.

📋 Breaking It Down

The Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Aldai MP Marianne Kitany, seeks to amend the Kenya Information and Communications Act, Cap 411A, to provide for metered billing of internet use based on consumption, in order to mitigate exploitation and secure the economic interests of internet users in line with Article 46 of the Constitution, which provides for consumer rights.

"The overall object of this Bill is to promote consumer protection by ensuring that consumers of internet services only pay for what they consume and not pre-determined over-priced internet services," reads the Bill.

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📌 What You Need to Know

If enacted, the Bill provides that an internet service provider shall operate a metered billing system, which shall assign each customer a unique identifier and meter number, monitor customer usage and convert that usage into readable details. The internet service provider shall also be required to create invoices based on consumption and allow for user verification of invoices.

Pre-priced wireless internet services and bundles are inflated, and the cost of such packages is not based on real consumption. The Bill therefore seeks to protect consumers of internet services, including small-scale businesses and the youth, who are among the highest consumers of the internet, by ensuring that, moving forward, the cost of internet shall be based on actual consumption.

"The Bill seeks to secure the economic interest of internet consumers in line with Article 46 of the Constitution. Consumer protection is a function of the national government as provided for under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution," it reads.

For internet providers currently holding valid licences and registrations, the proposed law provides that their licences will remain valid until expiry. However, upon expiry, subsequent registration and licensing will be done under the new Act.

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The Bill, which would also enhance access to internet services in Kenya, may, however, face resistance from sector players who continue to provide high-cost internet services without regard to consumer protection considerations.

📰 Source: Nation Africa