Following a presidential directive in July 2009, Mobile subcribers now have up to 31st July 2010 to register their SIM cards with their Mobile Providers.
To what extent do you guys think that registration of SIM cards will help curb crime?

"SIM registration will help track the culprits in incidences where they make calls or request M-Pesa/Zap money transfres."
You can be kidnapped and they request money to be sent via MPESA to your phone and go with you for the withdrawal. This registration stuff is just much ado about nothing.
And what will this directive have on sale of SIM cards? Will they still be sold in the streets and alleys?

I think it wont really make a big difference. The hardcore thugs in Kenya are always a step ahead of our system. We all know it's very easy to walk down to Riverroad and fake an Id,head to the SIM registration offices and register using your fake ID and of course a fake postal address. The only thing they can trace is the phone,but not necessarily the real guy if he's smart enough. They need to fight crime from the root,not from the branches.

People people people! Mnataka tukae pale pale tu n do absolutely nothing coz thugs r sijui always ahead? The idea is to give these outlaws a hard time....Hongera Mr President, thats what developing n developed countries do after all. Kenyans will complain to the grave over any new development.....for instance, who thinks Kenya will get a better chance for a new constitution if this one fails? Me thinks no, not in my lifetime...and the noise, complaints n gnashing of teeth will go on n on n on....

Wont help much, already all Zap and M-Pesa users are registered and yet criminals have been using the systems to demand ransom from kidnap victims. Even Onyanja the self confessed serial killer received money through M-Pesa and when the victims reported to the police, they were adviced to pay up and delete the record of transaction by the very police they loooked upon for help. What Kenya needs is complete accountability right from the top.

Ati accountability fm the top? Then we do the registration thereafter ama? To me, this is very CHEAP reasoning and precisely, DISTURBING. @tebes, tell us exactly how onyanja was caught!! Pliz do for the sake of integrity n the love of God!! Please!

Reg is one matter, police reforms is another one altogether. Maybe we should go back to zinjanthropus (sp) ways coz nothing seems to be gud 4 this pathetic country of whiners.

Onyancha is the Antichrist, and he was caught

What is the opportunity cost of this move?? What is the economic value both to the Mobile phone providers and the country at large of the convenience of being able to walk anywhere downtown at any time and be able to buy a SIM card and phone without any hassles? What about tourists and other visitors who within minutes of landing in the country can easily communicate back to their country and are reachable instantly? Like someone mentioned all Mpesa accounts are registered already and still Onyancha used it and so did all those fellows in Kamiti who put fake job adverts on newspapers.

So now that all SIMS will be registered, who keeps the Database? What other information does it have that will be useful in tracing someone? His/her P.O. Box Number? Maoni yangu: If something is not broken don't fix it. Let people live and conduct business easily and efficiently. Strengthen the capability of the police force to trace signals and apprehend suspects but don't kill biashara in the name of security you cannot provide.

@simonkabz, Robinhood, and Kadonoye, well said. We complain and do nothing and when a solution is given we complain even more - Wakenya! My take: Just like the burglar proof door to our houses, they reduce/deter theft/burglary but don't stop/eliminate them. SIM registration will likewise deter and reduce beside helping give clues to investigations. A move in the right direction.

@Mukiha, the cost element is implicit in any such operation and beside do we complain of the cost of extra security measures in our own homes, offices as unnecessary?