Mobile telephone device manufacturers are
cashing in on the planned switch-off of fake handsets by offering highly
discounted devices, enabling more Kenyans to afford genuine phones.
The Communications
Commission of Kenya (CCK) plans to disable an estimated three million
handsets by end of this month as part of Kenya government efforts to improve
mobile phone user traceability.
The intention is
to reduce the rising number of mobile phone-facilitated crime. Fake mobile
phones are harder to trace electronically because the 15-digit
unique identification number (IMEI code) assigned to all mobile phones upon
production is fake.
The tracing of
mobile handsets using the IMEI codes has already helped Kenya police solve a
recent murder case. The murderer was traced using the handset of his victim
through the IMEI code. It was also used to crack a kidnap ring operated by
university students.
The continuing
integration of mobile money with the banking system raises the urgency for
proper identification of mobile device user to meet Central
Bank of Kenya requirements of
Know-Your-Customer to deter financial crimes like money laundering.
Already, Kenya
requires all sim-cards in use to be registered under the user’s names. Huawei, Samsung and Nokia are among the
handset makers that have introduced smart phones at highly discounted prices.
Telcoms like Orange and Safaricom are also offering up to 60
per cent discount on smart
phones; spiced with free data bundles as they seek to prevent their subscribers
from getting disconnected which would deny them revenue.
Government has
rejected any plans to compensate those who will lose their handsets as earlier
demanded by consumer groups who argued that it was a mistake for state agencies
to allow the phones into the country. Perception of fake handsets being
manufactured in China has put more pressure
on Huawei, the Chinese telecom hardware manufacturer with substantial market
share in Kenya.
“Huawei has introduced
original devices that ensure quality user experience at affordable costs for
Kenyans at all levels,” said Wind Li, Huawei Kenya Representative Office
CEO. “As a global ICT leader, Huawei
adheres to the laws and regulations of the countries we operate in while
meeting all the product requirements,” he added.
CCK Director General Francis Wangusi told Kenyans to end the misconception in the mobile phones market that all handsets manufactured in China or by Chinese firms were counterfeit.
“Consumers are, therefore, advised to verify whether the handsets they wish to buy are genuine by sending the IMEI of the handset via sms to 1555. The response received from this system, which has been set up in liaison with device manufacturers, should be the only yardstick for determining whether the handset is genuine or not,” he said. Nokia has introduced its latest devices, Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the first devices in Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 range. Samsung Electronics East Africa has introduced the Samsung Chief Hero handset (E1500) which is a dual-SIM phone designed for cost sensitive users while Huawei introduced smartphones Ascend Y100 and honor.
Steve Mbogo, The East
African CCK Director General Francis Wangusi told Kenyans to end the misconception in the mobile phones market that all handsets manufactured in China or by Chinese firms were counterfeit.
“Consumers are, therefore, advised to verify whether the handsets they wish to buy are genuine by sending the IMEI of the handset via sms to 1555. The response received from this system, which has been set up in liaison with device manufacturers, should be the only yardstick for determining whether the handset is genuine or not,” he said. Nokia has introduced its latest devices, Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the first devices in Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 range. Samsung Electronics East Africa has introduced the Samsung Chief Hero handset (E1500) which is a dual-SIM phone designed for cost sensitive users while Huawei introduced smartphones Ascend Y100 and honor.