| The dispute over Econet’s mobile license has moved to a new stage after the High Court rejected attempts to block the Government from issuing frequencies to Econet.
The Kenya National Federation of Cooperatives (KNFC) sought to block the Government, through the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), from granting the spectrum required for Econet to roll out its network. KNFC is a partner in a consortium that won the third mobile operator license, after Safaricom and Celtel. The licensing procedure has been embroiled in controversy.
On Monday, a High Court Judge instead issued temporarily orders stopping KNFC’s action against Econet until another case filed in the Court of Appeal is heard and determined. The judge said his court and the Court of Appeal could not listen to the two applications at the same time for fear of reaching different decisions that may dent the credibility of the court.
Among the issues in dispute is the local shareholding in the consortium, where KNFC is demanding a 70% stake.
Source: The East African Standard - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News
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