Kenyans could soon face changes in the way they pay for internet services if proposed regulations requiring providers to bill customers according to data consumption become law.
The proposal has sparked concern among telecommunications operators, who warned MPs that implementing usage-based billing would require major investments in technology, monitoring systems and sophisticated billing infrastructure.
During a meeting with the National Assembly’s Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation on Thursday, August 13, one operator argued that the additional costs involved in tracking every unit of data could eventually be passed on to consumers through higher internet charges.
The company also cautioned that the proposed system could disrupt popular unlimited and speed-based packages, which currently allow many households, businesses, schools and remote workers to budget for predictable monthly internet expenses. Instead of making consumption-based billing compulsory, providers urged lawmakers to allow customers to choose from different pricing models while ensuring that users have clear and accurate information about their data consumption.
They maintained that fixed-price packages tied to internet speeds remain a practical and widely accepted way of accessing internet services and should not be eliminated through legislation. The debate is unfolding as the committee examines proposed changes contained in the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie said views from industry players and other stakeholders would be important in helping the committee identify provisions that may require adjustment before it makes its recommendations to Parliament. MPs have also been urged to consider an approach that gives consumers greater visibility over their data usage without forcing every internet customer into a consumption-based billing model.
