On 24 March 2026 Kenya's Communications Authority (CA) published a new technical specification for mobile cellular equipment. The document sets out minimum requirements for mobile cellular devices including smartphones, feature phones and tablets.

What the specification covers

The standard covers the following areas:

· Minimum power requirements;

· Frequency requirements;

· RF output power requirements;

· Safety requirements based on IEC 60950-1;

· Radiated emissions;

· Conducted emissions;

· Specific absorption rate (SAR);

· The RoHS Directive;

· Accessibility requirements.

The key requirements introduced by the standard, which apply to type approval procedures from 24 March 2026, include:

· Batteries in mobile cellular devices must comply with GSMA TS.09 and provide at least 8 hours of talk time and 24 hours of standby time;

· Where a device is supplied with a power plug, the plug must comply with the Type G standard used in Kenya, or an adapter converting a non-Type G plug to Type G must be supplied;

· Charging cables must be detachable from the power adapter and comply with ITU-T Recommendation L.1000;

· Mobile devices must have a USB Type-C charging port complying with EU Directive 2022/2380.

Note that the new requirements do not apply to the following categories of mobile device:

· Devices that already hold a valid CA type approval;

· Devices already shipped or in transit;

· Existing phones and tablets already in use by consumers.

The new requirements are therefore mandatory from the date the document took effect, and apply only to newly submitted mobile devices.