This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
On October 8, 2019, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) issued a warning to the public against buying electronics from individuals without a physical business premise.
The DCI emphasized that Kenyans should only purchase items from people with documents to engage in the trade, including licenses, permits, and other local and/or national approvals.
According to the DCI, buying electronics from suspicious outlets can lead to severe consequences, including being found with suspected stolen property, which may escalate to death sentences.
The DCI also advised electronic dealers to mark every electronic gadget bought by a customer with indelible initials for safety and security purposes, making it harder for criminals to hawk the items and easier for investigative agencies to track and identify.
Additionally, the DCI warned that when police forensically investigate and find anyone in possession of such devices, the individual may have suffered immensely by the time it is established that they were not involved in the crime.
Kenyan citizens are urged to report in confidence at any police station or the DCI Office in case they have any doubt that they may be harbouring a gadget from a suspicious source.
While it is easy to locate a phone or a laptop that has been lost, it is a different story when it comes to other electronics like TVs, music systems, etc.
However, the DCI's requirement is coming a bit late into the era of device ownership, the tips are valuable to ensure that items owned by Kenyans are traceable, ensuring safety and security for those who own such items.
