New law to block phone thieves
Safaricom chief executive officer Michael Joseph (right) with Mr Romeo Kumalo, the CEO of Vodacom, at a ceremony to launch the East African Network by Safaricom, MTN and Vodacom at a Sarena Hotel, Nairobi.
A new law might be passed to discourage trade in stolen mobile phones. It will also lock out those who unblock mobile telephones illegally.
Safaricom chief executive officer Michael Joseph (right) with Mr Romeo Kumalo, the CEO of Vodacom, at a ceremony to launch the East African Network by Safaricom, MTN and Vodacom at a Sarena Hotel, Nairobi. Photo/ Anthony Omuya
Information and Communications minister Mutahi Kagwe yesterday said the Government had renewed the push for the Kenya Information and Communications Bill 2006 to stem the rising cases of stolen mobile phones.
If passed into law, the Act will automatically outlaw the use of gadgets and software used to unblock stolen mobile phones.
The law will target illegal users of software used to tamper with the unique International Mobile Equipment Identification numbers on mobile phones as they have been accused of fuelling the theft of mobile phones.
Under the proposed law, those found guilty will serve three years in prison or pay a fine not exceeding Sh300,000 or both. The law will also give the police the muscle to rein in businesses found abetting or trading in stolen mobile phones.
Mr Kagwe said that due to the lack of such laws, illegal dealers had been enjoying a field day unblocking stolen mobile phones.
“They are so daring that it is common in Nairobi to spot signposts confirming ‘we unblock phones here,’” Mr Kagwe said.
In Europe, he said, such practices were illegal and would not be tolerated here either.
The minister was speaking at Serena Hotel, Nairobi, during the launch of a regional mobile phone network by Safaricom, Vodacom Tanzania and MTN Uganda.
The three companies’ 10 million subscribers can now make calls across the firms’ networks without having to pay extra costs.
The service also allows customers to use their lines across the Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian borders without having to pay roaming charges.
Regional experience
Safaricom chief executive Michael Joseph said the partnership was designed to give subscribers a regional mobile experience.
“All our subscribers have to do is travel with their respective Safaricom, MTN or Vodacom SIM cards across the three East African countries and make calls, send SMSs, etc, just as they do at home,” Mr Joseph said.
In September last year, Safaricom’s rival, Celtel, launched a one network service across East Africa for its subscribers in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The service allows Celtel subscribers calling to or from Celtel Kenya, Celtel Uganda and Celtel Tanzania to pay local rates.
Mr Kagwe regretted the slow pace of connecting the telecommunications networks in Africa.
Mr Joseph said Safaricom intended to extend the one-network service to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the near future with the help of MTN.
