Type Approval is the process by which the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) certifies that a piece of communications or ICT equipment meets Kenya’s technical standards before it can be imported, marketed, or used in the country. Fees are charged per equipment category and differ for personal-use versus marketing/commercial-sale approval.
CA Type Approval Fee Schedule (Effective 1st July 2012)
| Equipment Category | Personal Use (KES) | Marketing (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary/cordless/executive telephones | 500 | 2,000 |
| GSM/CDMA terminals, intelligent executive phones | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| Call monitoring/metering/barring equipment | 500 | 2,000 |
| Private exchange equipment (PABX, PMBX, voice messaging) | 2,500 | 10,000 |
| Teleprinters, payphones, fax, paging, data equipment (modems, routers, switches) | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| Broadcast transmitter equipment (radio/TV transmitters) | 5,000 | 20,000 |
| Community radio transmitters | 2,500 | 10,000 |
| Network equipment (microwave, base station transmitters) | 5,000 | 20,000 |
| GMPCS terminal (with ITU MoU Mark) | No fee | No fee |
| GMPCS terminal (without ITU MoU Mark) | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| VSAT equipment | 2,500 | 10,000 |
Note: This fee schedule reflects an 80% average reduction implemented in October 2011 to encourage greater compliance among vendors and contractors.
Why Type Approval Matters
Equipment that has not been type-approved by CA may be seized at customs, denied importation, or face enforcement action if found in active use. Type approval also protects network integrity by ensuring imported devices don’t cause harmful interference.
Application Process
- Submit the Type Approval Application Form along with technical specifications/test reports
- Pay the applicable fee based on equipment category and personal-use vs. marketing status
- CA reviews compliance with Kenyan and international technical standards
- Receive a Type Approval Certificate permitting import/use/sale
Marketing-intent approvals consistently cost roughly four times the personal-use fee across nearly every equipment category, reflecting the broader compliance scrutiny applied to equipment intended for resale to the public.
