The High Court has ruled that registered mobile phone numbers are personal data protected under the Constitution, and cannot be deactivated or reassigned without the owner’s consent.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, March 19, Justice Lawrence Mugambi stated that mobile numbers serve as unique digital identifiers that connect directly to an individual’s private life.
The court emphasized that such data falls under constitutional protection, citing Article 31(c) and (d), which guarantee every person the right to privacy, including protection from unnecessary exposure of personal information.
The decision now places clear limits on telecommunications companies, preventing them from arbitrarily recycling or reassigning phone numbers without following due process and obtaining user consent.