The much awaited day finally reached, and 680,000 mobile phones on Safaricom Network got the axe, that’s in compliance with the CCK directive that mobile network operators get to switch counterfeit mobile phones on their network. Safaricom says they did switch a total of 680,000 phones from a list given to them by CCK with an order to have them not access network and services from the 30th of September onwards. Safaricom notes that majority of those affected by the switch off come from around Nairobi, Rift Valley Central and Eastern provinces, making a total of the targeted counterfeit phones.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience and anxiety that this exercise has caused amongst our customers. We realise that they have little to do with presence of these counterfeit devices in the country and it is unfortunate that they have had to shoulder the negative consequences of the same. In order to mitigate the inconvenience we have been contacting all affected customers and providing them with the option of purchasing affordable genuine phones or redeeming their Bonga Loyalty Scheme Points for new handsets,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.
Airtel on the other hand is said to have switched off a total of 740,000 counterfeit handsets, Orange Kenya with 75,000 and yumobile is said to have not submitted data to CCK.
