Hi Christopher,

Before this DMS, the MNOs had the capacity to block any phones reported as stolen. However, this seems to have only been left to Safaricom (not sure they still blocked them, because these days one can only recover their phones if they follow the cops 'closely') as Airtel seems to be uncertain (last time I checked they were not easy to deal with). My main point though is that the MNOs already had a similar system as CA is trying to push down their throat (interpreting the DGs words!)

That then can only mean one thing: The system CA is pushing is different, has got much more features, and it's these features that are very important now - and those features are the ones we're (Wanjiku and me) raising our voices about. Those features are likely to be abused by KRA, Police, NIS (aka govt). The fact that CA is independent is neither here nor there when it comes to a time when 'security' is cited from certain quarters.

On 18 February 2017 at 13:32, Wambua, Christopher <Wambua@ca.go.ke> wrote:

Washington

KRA will be entering EMEI data of all imported devices at customs into the system at the point of entry.

Regarding Kenyans who buy phones abroad, there will be no problem as long as the EMEIs of the handsets are in the GSMA whitelist.

On stolen phones, any phone reported as stolen will be denied service on all the networks.

Sent from my iPhone

On 18 Feb 2017, at 13:11, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> wrote:

On 18 February 2017 at 12:56, Wambua, Christopher <Wambua@ca.go.ke> wrote:

Listers,

CA has no interested in snooping on your private communication. What would we gain from that! We are not a law enforcement agency in the strict sense of the word.

The system is a central database containing models of all type approved (by CA) and genuine mobile devices (GSMA), and handsets imported legally into the Country (KRA) and a blacklist of stolen handsets.

I doubt CA has a way of having a database of all handsets imported legally into the country. That can only be achieved by asking all importers to avail each box for scanning (to get the IMEI) which I doubt happens, or does it?

There are also Kenyans who travel, buy a phone out there and come with it for personal use. There are also foreigners who come with their phones and end up selling to someone as 2nd hand (or just pass me down). CA cannot pretend to have a database of these.

I have IMEIs of 4 phones which have been stolen from me, reported to the Police, but never recovered. Does it mean that now CA's system will help recover my stolen handsets? How??

Oh, and I hasten to ask: There are millions of CDMA handsets/headsets junk lying around in KE, whose IMEIs can be used on other handsets by those River Road engineers who write IMEIs to handsets. How is CA able to deal with this?

Will CA be giving regular (weekly/monthly) reports of the millions of "fake" devices detected by this system and hence blocked, or this is a responsibility handed down to the MNOs who perhaps will be the ones receiving the complaints from those affected?

In the overall, how does this system benefit Wanjiku?? Remember Wanjiku was not consulted when this system idea was conceived, planned and implemented so hajui!

We do accept that CA is a law-abiding Independent entity, but there are other CAs allover Africa who have proven that that is not usually the case!

The truth, like pregnancy, is not easy to hide. Ultimately it comes out :-)

--

Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223
"Oh, the cruft."

Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223
"Oh, the cruft."