Why Kenya Is Mandating Type C Chargers on All Mobile Phones

Phone Charging

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued updated technical specifications requiring all mobile phones and communication devices sold in the country to come with USB Type-C chargers.

The authority says the new rules aim to enhance consumer safety, network reliability, and device performance. Manufacturers must comply with standards covering input power, safety, electromagnetic compatibility, radiated power, frequency use, and environmental considerations.

“These specifications establish clear technical requirements for mobile devices to ensure their safe, reliable, and efficient operation within Kenya's telecommunications networks,” said CA Director General David Mugonyi.

The guidelines also stipulate that devices and accessories must not contain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, or cadmium. They are designed to protect users against electrical shocks, overheating, and the risk of explosions during use or charging.

Mobile device batteries must provide at least eight hours of talk time and 24 hours of standby time, while devices must meet national and international radiation exposure limits and remain compatible with current and future telecommunications networks.

To maintain network performance, the specifications require limiting unintended emissions and ensuring devices are resistant to interference.

Where devices are sold with a power plug, it must conform to Kenya’s Type G 3-pin standard, or an adapter must be included. Devices must support 240 Vac ± 10% at 50 Hz ± 1, in line with national power standards.

Charging solutions must allow detachable cables and comply with USB Type-C requirements, following the European Union Directive (EU) 2022/2380.

Devices must support frequency bands for 2G (GSM), 3G (IMT-2000), 4G (IMT-Advanced), 5G (IMT-2020), and future generations as allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Safety requirements include restricting access to energized parts, maintaining safe material temperatures, and marking replaceable batteries with warnings against incorrect use.

The rules also emphasize accessibility, requiring support for persons with disabilities. Devices must be compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition, and braille displays.

Features for users with limited vision include speech output, text-to-speech, haptic feedback, non-visual navigation cues, adjustable text size and spacing, high-contrast display, and screen magnification.

For users with hearing limitations, devices must provide visual notifications, text displays for audio, vibration alerts, captioning, audio amplification, adjustable frequency response, and real-time captioning.

Other mandatory accessibility features include Real-Time Text (RTT) for messaging, visible caller identification, alternatives to voice-only services, and barrier-free access to emergency services.