National Addressing System for Kenya

CA Projects
 May 2, 2023

Introduction

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has over the years progressively implemented systems aimed at promoting communications systems of international recognition. The latest system being developed in line with the Authority’s numbering and addressing mandate is the National Addressing System of Kenya (NASK).

This is a framework that provides for among others, naming and numbering of streets, numbering of properties such as buildings and parcels of land to facilitate identification and  the location of a parcel or dwelling on the ground.

Legal Background

The Kenya Information and Communications (Numbering) Regulations 2010 require the Authority to among others:

  1. Establish a National Communications and Addressing Plan (NCAP) for electronic communication numbers and addresses, postal codes, in liaison with international organizations dealing with numbering and addressing matters.
  2. Ensure that the NCAP among other details, shall include geographical postal points of delivery.
  3. To appoint, if necessary, a person or an organization to manage or maintain an integrated number or address database.
  4. To assign, and issue, if satisfied, a certificate upon application for addresses/communication numbers based on the NCAP.

Implementation of the National Addressing System of Kenya (NAS)

In an effort to establish a NASK for the country, the Authority has hosted two stakeholder buy-in workshops in March and October 2016.The initial buy-in workshop was held on 18th March 2016 to getting stakeholder (particularly Counties) comments and suggestions on the proposed NASk framework. A NASK Committee was also constituted from the identified stakeholders.

The workshop was attended by 100 participants drawn from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), County Governments, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology , Courier Industry Association of Kenya (CIAK), Higher Loans Board (HELB), Coop Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Council of Governors (COG), the Postal Corporation of Kenya, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kenya Urban Roads Board, Ministry Transport/Infrastructure, Survey of Kenya and National Land Commission among others.

Following the inaugural workshop a raft of recommendations were made that included the establishment of a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee spearheaded by the Authority to drive the process.

The Steering Commitee held five meetings and also hosted a second buy-in workshop on 24th October 2016 with attendance from top County officials and graced by ICT Cabinet and Principal Secretaries, Universal Postal Union (UPU) Director-General and other from key officials from other ministries.

At the proposed workshop, stakeholders including County Government officials were inducted into the National Addressing System of Kenya (NASK) concept including legal provisions, its importance and roles of various players.

 

Milestones Realized

  1. Inaugural NASK stakeholder workshop that recommended the establishment of an inter-ministerial NASK Steering Committee in March 2016.
  2. Constitution of NASK Steering Committee in June 2016.
  3. Universal Postal Union  technical assistance (Consultancy mission) on recommended NASK roadmap for Kenya inJuly 2016.
  4. Preparation of draft NASK roadmap  in September 2016.
  5. Start of NAS project consultancy procurement on 4 broad areas of policy, finance model, standards and database development and management in September 2016.
  6. Second buy-in workshop and inauguration of National NASK SC in October 2016.
  7. UPU Certification of Kenya on S42 Addressing standards in April 2017.
  8. Development of draft NASK standards and other guiding frameworks for implementing NASK (Property/Street Naming And Numbering Standards, NAS Policy, County Addressing Law, Database Management framework and Financial Modeling) in September 2017.

Next Steps

  1. County engagements/sensitization on NAS framework.
  2. Validation of NAS framework.
  3. Consideration of established NAS standards, adoption and incorporation in the Authority’s National Communications Numbering and Addressing Plan (NCNAP).
  4. Creation of awareness among legislators and Adoption of NAS legislation.
  5. Development of project Implementation Communications Strategy.
  6. Carry out County implementation.
  7. Development of National Database.
  8. Monitoring and evaluation- by the NAS Secretariat and County Addressing Units (CAUs) and reporting to the National Assembly.
  9. Policy review in 3 to 5 years-to keep in tandem with global and national trends and developments.

The NASK project is one of the projects that the Authority is implementing and its success will further compliment the overall growth of e-commerce  as it will provide better ICT transactional traceability and enhanced confidence in the use of ICT services in general. It will also enhance  security and identity within the country.

 

Important National Addressing System of Kenya (NASK) Documents