CCK approach on counterfeit phones criticised

The planned shutdown of counterfeit mobile phones by the Communication Commission of Kenya may not achieve the desired results as the gadgets are still widely available in the market, a consumer group has said. Instead, the Consumer Federation of Kenya says the regulator needs to fight the problem at the source before being punishing innocent subcribers.

CCK, which is charged with issuing type-approval for all communications gadgets being sold, has been carrying on public awareness on counterfeit phones, yet these are still being openly sold in outlets across the country. Cofek says it has written to CCK suggesting a change in approach and is awaiting response in the course of this week. “The CCK is right in the fight against counterfeit phones on the strength of terrorism and other crimes. Unfortunately their strategy is wrong. At best it is punitive on innocent consumers,” Mutoro said. “At worst a reflection of someone fighting a problem whose scope they have have no idea of,”he added.

According to CCK estimation close to 3 million mobile phones (about 10 per cent )in the Kenyan market are counterfeit. while launching the campaign the regulator said CCK the Police, mobile phone manufacturers and the Anti-Counterfeit Agency to combat this. “As for now, we can hope that they can consult a little more widely on the matter,” The Government plans to have all unregistered SIM cards and counterfeit handset mobile phones phased out by September 30 2012 to fight fraud and other crimes and recoup lost revenue.