Counterfeit phones have been denying users the value and benefits that come with genuine handsets. In an Interview with Business Daily, Nokia East Africa General Manager Bruce Howe says Nokia's brand has been badly tainted by counterfeit phones that use its name reducing the sales of the original Nokia handsets.

Howe says Nokia is working closely with Communication Commission of Kenya to eradicate the counterfeit menace which has extensively hurt Nokia’s brands in the region. CCK has set September 30th 2012 as the date for shutting down all counterfeit phones on the market. Howe says that Kenya’s move to switch off counterfeit phones would help consumers enjoy the capabilities of genuine handsets.

Nokia East Africa has extended the current Nokia Asha family range with two new mobile phones – the Nokia Asha 202 and Nokia Asha 305 for the local market. Howe says this is aimed at building up Nokia’s commitment to connect consumers to smart mobile phones. Nokia's glory days with Series 40 phones in Africa was affected by penetration of counterfeit mobile phones in the country.

Nokia's decision to bring affordable smart phones in the market will benefit consumers as this would rival Samsung's dominance into a market whose products are driven by changing technology and trends in youth needs. Samsung has introduced into the Kenyan market a range of smart phones with prices as low as Ksh. 10,000. Nokia plans to introduce the Asha 305 smart phone to the market at Ksh. 7,700.