Troubleshooting OpenAI API Error 401 Unauthorized

Understanding HTTP 401 Unauthorized

A 401 Unauthorized response from the Fikra API indicates an authentication failure. This error occurs when the request lacks valid credentials or the provided credentials are not recognized by the system.

Common Causes

1. Missing API Key: The Authorization header is absent from the request.
2. Invalid API Key: The key provided does not match any active key in the Fikra dashboard.
3. Inactive API Key: The key has been revoked, expired, or disabled in the Fikra dashboard.

Resolution Steps

1. Verify Header Format: Ensure the request includes the Authorization header with the Bearer scheme. http Authorization: Bearer fk_live_...
2. Check Key Status: Log in to the Fikra dashboard to confirm the API key is active and not revoked.
3. Regenerate Key: If the key is compromised or inactive, generate a new API key from the dashboard and update your environment variable (e.g., FIKRA_API_KEY).
4. Environment Variable Check: Ensure your application is reading the correct environment variable and that it contains the full key string without whitespace or truncation.

Other Common Fikra API Errors

Handling Rate Limits and Service Unavailability

For 429 (Rate Limit) and 503 (Service Unavailable) errors, implement exponential backoff to retry requests safely. Do not assume automatic failover or dedicated capacity.

Exponential Backoff Example (Python)

import time
import random
import requests

FIKRA_API_KEY = "your_api_key_here" # Load from environment variable in production
BASE_URL = "https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1"

def call_fikra_api(payload):
    url = f"{BASE_URL}/chat/completions"
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {FIKRA_API_KEY}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }

    max_retries = 5
    base_delay = 1.0

    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        try:
            response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)

            if response.status_code == 429 or response.status_code == 503:
                # Exponential backoff with jitter
                delay = base_delay * (2 ** attempt) + random.uniform(0, 1)
                print(f"Received {response.status_code}. Retrying in {delay:.2f}s...")
                time.sleep(delay)
                continue

            response.raise_for_status()
            return response.json()

        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
            if attempt == max_retries - 1:
                raise e
            delay = base_delay * (2 ** attempt) + random.uniform(0, 1)
            time.sleep(delay)

# Example usage
# result = call_fikra_api({"model": "fikra-flash", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]})

Important Notes

• No Automatic Failover: Fikra does not promise automatic failover to other providers or models.
• No Uptime SLA: Do not assume guaranteed uptime percentages or SLA-backed compensation.
• Rate Limits: Current limits are 30 RPM for unverified accounts and 100 RPM for trusted accounts. Check the Fikra dashboard for your account's specific status.
• Model Availability: Always verify model aliases (e.g., fikra-flash, fikra-pro-20b) against the current model registry, as availability may vary.