If you have ever texted STOP to a promotional sender or switched on Do-Not-Disturb with your mobile network, you may still get a text from the government in the coming weeks. That is deliberate.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has ordered mobile operators to let government-authorized emergency bulk SMS messages through to every active subscriber, whatever their messaging preferences.
The order, in a letter dated October 1, 2026, went to Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya and Jamii Telecommunications.
What the Order Says
Normally, commercial bulk SMS runs on consent. You opt in to get messages, you can opt out, and DND is there to cut off the rest.
The CA has exempted government-authorized emergency SMS from all of that for two periods: the National Early Warning System simulation exercise, and the El Niño preparedness and response period.
The operators must:
- Deliver approved emergency messages to all active subscribers, even those who opted out or have DND on
- Stop applying opt-out mechanisms to emergency alerts
- Give emergency traffic priority on their networks so messages arrive on time
- Provide technical support for the simulation exercises and for real emergency operations
What Counts As an Emergency SMS?
The exemption is not limited to evacuation orders. It covers early warning messages, disaster preparedness advisories, simulation notifications, emergency instructions and El Niño-related public safety alerts.
The messages will go out through designated government platforms, including short code 1590.
The first test runs were scheduled for October 2, one day after the letter. That was a short window for operators to prepare, which fits the CA’s demand that they implement the technical and operational measures immediately and report back on how ready they are.
CA Director General and CEO David Mugonyi has said compliance is mandatory, so operators have no room to negotiate.
The CA grounded the order in several legal sources:
- Article 35 of the Constitution and the Access to Information Act, 2016: these require the State to publish and publicize important information affecting the nation, including information on public welfare and safety.
- Article 33: the freedom to receive and impart information.
- Article 46: consumers’ right to the information they need for their safety and welfare.
- Operators’ license conditions: Condition 6 covers emergency communication services. It requires operators to provide information to the public as the Government directs and to coordinate with the CA during emergencies. The CA says early warning messages fall squarely within it.
The CA described the order as being in the public interest and in line with the Government’s duty to protect life, property and national security.
What You Should Expect
If you have blocked promotional texts, that block will not apply to these messages. Expect some during the simulation period and through the El Niño response period. Some of them will be tests, so a message about a simulation does not necessarily mean a real emergency.
The reports do not say when the El Niño period ends or exactly how long the exemption will last, so it is open-ended for now. They also do not say whether subscribers can opt out of these specific alerts.
The directive tells operators not to apply opt-out mechanisms to them, so assume you cannot.
