Kenyans may face increased internet costs if Parliament passes a new law mandating internet service providers (ISPs) to charge customers based on data consumption. The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, currently under review, proposes a shift from unlimited and speed-based packages to a metered billing system.

Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL), operator of the Faiba brand, raised concerns before the National Assembly's Communications Committee on August 13, highlighting potential negative impacts of the proposed changes. JTL's CEO, C.K. Joshua, warned that mandatory data-based billing could lead to higher prices, reduced consumer choice, and the elimination of unlimited internet packages widely used by households, businesses, schools, and remote workers.

Impact on Users and Providers

  • Heavy internet users such as gamers, streamers, content creators, and students could see significant cost increases.
  • Businesses and institutions with multiple connected devices might face higher monthly bills.
  • ISPs may incur substantial expenses upgrading billing infrastructure to track detailed usage, costs likely passed on to consumers.

Privacy and Regulatory Concerns

JTL also expressed worries about a clause requiring providers to submit subscriber-level usage data to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA). The company argued this could infringe on privacy rights protected under Kenya's Data Protection Act and Constitution. They urged lawmakers to exclude sensitive personal information from mandatory reports to mitigate cybersecurity risks.

Industry and Parliamentary Response

Currently, Kenya's fixed internet market exceeds 2.6 million subscriptions, with Safaricom and JTL leading. The proposed billing changes could affect millions of users nationwide. JTL advocates for maintaining multiple pricing options, allowing customers to monitor data use without losing unlimited or speed-tiered plans.

Committee chairman John Kiarie welcomed stakeholder input, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with consumer protection. The Bill remains under parliamentary scrutiny and may be amended before final approval. Until then, existing internet packages remain available.