Fake phones nabbed during a past operation in Mombasa. [Photo/ businessdailyafrica/com]
A swoop on mobile phone vendors by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has yielded more than 5,000 counterfeit mobile phones in Mombasa County.
CA Coast regional manager Joseph Kimuge said the crackdown was carried out early June among traders selling electronics in the Central Business District.Kimuge said his office has taken more than 20 vendors to court for selling outlawed mobile phones.“Some have been convicted and others are still in court. We are planning to dispose the phones. We do not want the market to be infiltrated with fake telecommunication gadgets,” he said.He warned members of the public against buying cheap phones. Kimuge said mobile phone buyers should purchase the gadgets in established outlets.The Communications Authority is blaming the black market for shipping in the devices into the country urging Kenyans to ensure they obtain a warranty after purchase.“How can you buy a smart phone at Sh1,000? Isn’t that fake? How do you buy a gadget without being issued with a receipt and warranty? It must also have an established repair centre. Through our website, we have published all telecommunication equipment which, are supposed to be sold in Kenya,” he said.Kimuge said they are conducting the swoop because the government wants to protect mobile phone operators from sub-standard telecommunication gadgets.“This is pure black-market. The phones' quality are compromised to an extent whenever you make a call it doesn’t establish a connection meaning it is of poor quality service,” he added.