This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
On May 19, 2020, the Communications Authority of Kenya unveiled a new service to combat counterfeit mobile devices in the country.
Acting Director-General Mercy Wanjau announced the launch of a Mobile Messaging Service, which will provide consumers with a free way to verify the authenticity of their mobile phones.
According to Wanjau, the service will aid users in ascertaining whether their mobile phone handsets are genuine by providing the details of the device, including the make and model.
To use the service, consumers will need to dial #06# on their mobile phone to obtain the International Mobile Equipment Identifier number (IMEI), also known as the IMEI number.
They will then send the IMEI number as an SMS text message to short code 1555 to receive the details of the mobile phone.
Wanjau advised members of the public to use the service to detect counterfeit devices, which pose a significant threat to personal and national security, as well as providing poor quality of service.
