CA metered billing: usage alerts at 50%, 80% and 100%

What CA metered billing proposals say

According to the Authority’s 3 November 2026 statement, Director General David Mugonyi backed the Bill’s goal of fighting inaccurate and opaque charges under Article 46, but argued for stronger regulations and licence conditions instead of a statutory mandate for metered billing. Key proposals include mandatory usage alerts at 50%, 80% and 100% of consumption, free real-time dashboards, monthly expenditure caps, consumer-selected spending limits, independent metering audits, plain-language itemised bills and suspended disputed charges pending investigation.

Why mandatory CA metered billing worries the Authority

CA said usage-based billing could hit low-income households, students, SMEs and underserved areas with unexpected costs from background apps, updates, streaming and cloud services. Fixed packages give budget certainty that pure metering does not. Most ISPs already have systems that can monitor usage and produce consumption invoices when needed.

The Authority also wants affordable broadband packages for low-income users and students, with possible zero-rating for designated public-interest services. Those ideas would feed the review of the Kenya Information and Communications (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2026.

What happens next

MPs on the Communication, Information and Innovation Committee, chaired by Hon. John Kiarie, are still considering the Amendment Bill. CA’s position is regulatory advice, not a finished Gazette. Consumers who already fight disputed data bills can escalate after trying their ISP — see related CA complaint trends in our companion story on Q1 resolutions.

For readers tracking CA metered billing, the takeaway is practical: CA metered billing proposals sit alongside other digital consumer rules such as the Online Safety Bill. See also Online Safety Bill. This CA metered billing briefing sticks to primary documents only.

Frequently asked questions

Is metered billing mandatory in Kenya now?

No. CA is arguing against making consumption-based billing mandatory across the sector.

What alerts does CA want?

Mandatory usage alerts at 50%, 80% and 100% of consumption, plus free real-time dashboards.

Where will the proposals go?

Into the Consumer Protection Regulations, 2026 review and stronger licensing/QoS conditions, CA says.