Sender ID naming rules in Kenya at a glance
A sender ID is the name people see instead of a number. The networks approve it one name at a time, and most rejections come down to a few naming rules.
The rules in short
- Up to 11 characters, with no spaces.
- Letters and numbers, with at least one letter. Some networks accept a hyphen or underscore, others do not.
- It must relate to your registered business name, product or brand.
- No generic words on their own, such as INFO, ALERT, SMS or VERIFY.
- No names of banks, government bodies, mobile networks or brands you do not own.
Names that pass and names that fail
| Name | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| GREENHILL | Likely to pass | Short, matches the school's name |
| UMOJASACCO | Likely to pass | 10 characters, the SACCO's own name |
| GREENHILLACADEMY | Fails | 16 characters; the limit is 11 |
| GREEN HILL | Fails | Contains a space |
| INFO | Fails | A generic word |
| MPESAINFO | Fails | Uses a mobile money brand you do not own |
Shortening a long name
- Drop words such as LIMITED, LTD, COMPANY or ENTERPRISES.
- Keep the distinctive part of the name: GREENHILL rather than ACADEMY.
- Use a short form customers already know, such as GREENHILLAC.
- Avoid digits that look like letters, such as 0 for O.
Have a second choice ready. If the networks reject your first name, we apply for the second at no extra cost.
After you check the name
Apply with the name and the documents the networks ask for: your registration certificate and a signed authorisation letter on your letterhead. Our full sender ID guide covers the documents, the approval times on each network and how to move a sender ID from another provider.