Kenyan Starlink users are now required to complete fresh identity verification or risk losing service, following updated regulatory requirements from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
The satellite internet provider has started notifying customers via email and account alerts that they must submit additional identifying information to remain connected. New customers, meanwhile, can no longer activate service without first providing government-issued identification.
Starlink emails warn of possible service interruption
Screenshots shared by users on social media show emails from Starlink titled along the lines of “Action Required: Verify Your Identity in Kenya,” urging customers to complete identity verification by a specified deadline.
The notice explains that, as required by local authorities, all Starlink customers in Kenya must complete identity verification to continue receiving service. Customers who fail to comply by the stated deadline risk having their accounts interrupted or deactivated.
The messaging aligns with in-account alerts now visible on starlink.com for Kenyan users. A banner notification states that regulations require additional information before service can be activated, alongside prompts to update account details.
In addition, Starlink has updated its Privacy Policy and specifically referenced a CA Privacy Notice for Kenya, signaling a formal alignment with local regulatory requirements.
New sign-ups blocked without ID
The changes are even more explicit for new customers.
When attempting to sign up for Starlink in Kenya, users are now informed that they must provide identifying information, including a copy of a photo ID, to receive service. After placing an order, customers are directed to upload the required documents through their account portal to complete registration.
Starlink also warns that service will be deactivated if the required information is not provided.
Importantly, the name entered under “Contact Information” must exactly match the details on the identification document, a move that suggests tighter Know Your Customer (KYC) enforcement and reduced tolerance for mismatched or proxy registrations.
This effectively brings Starlink in line with Kenya’s broader SIM card registration and telecom subscriber verification framework, where operators are required to tie services to verified national identification documents.
Regulatory tightening under CA oversight
While the Communications Authority has not publicly issued a widely circulated statement specific to Starlink in recent days, the platform’s updated notices repeatedly reference compliance with local authorities and CA privacy requirements.
Kenya has, in recent years, intensified enforcement around subscriber registration across telecom and financial services, citing national security and fraud prevention concerns. Mobile network operators are already required to conduct strict KYC checks, and failure to comply has previously led to mass SIM deactivations.
Starlink’s move signals that satellite internet providers are now firmly within that regulatory net.
Given Starlink’s rapid growth in Kenya thanks to initiatives like cutting the hardware barrier with monthly installments, this development marks a significant shift. Previously, some users viewed satellite connectivity as somewhat removed from traditional telecom bureaucracy. That gap now appears to be closing.
What this means for existing users
For current subscribers, the message is clear: log into your Starlink account and check for verification prompts. Failure to provide the requested identification details by the stated deadline could result in service suspension.
For prospective customers, there is no longer a path to activation without uploading valid identification that matches the account name.
The move underscores Kenya’s tightening grip on digital and connectivity services operating within its borders. As Starlink deepens its footprint locally, it’s increasingly being treated not as a disruptive outsider. But as a fully regulated telecom player.
