Do you own a fake handset? Well, you have up to 3 months to replace your counterfeit handset or risk having it switched off. The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has set 30th September 2012 as the date to switch off fake mobile phones.
The government has in the recent past expressed its intention to wipe out counterfeit mobile phones from the market. During this year’s World Global Anti-Counterfeit Day, Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) affirmed its commitment to reduce the number of counterfeit mobile phones and accessories in East Africa. The same sentiments were echoed by Robert Nyagah, Nokia East Africa Care Channel Manager, saying that the greatest dangers of using a fake phone is the lack of access to after-sales support. He added that the devices are often not capable of supporting relevant consumer services and the user experience is poor.
The Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority stated that Kenya loses around 3.2 Billion Shillings annually through tax evasion on the sale of fake handsets.