The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has deployed a new SMS-based verification system to dismantle the syndicate of SIM card fraud and counterfeit devices plaguing the nation.

In a decisive move to secure Kenya’s digital ecosystem, the CA has operationalized a new verification protocol targeting the twin evils of SIM swap fraud and non-type-approved devices. With mobile money transactions forming the backbone of the economy, the regulator’s latest tool, the *#06# and 1555 SMS verification, puts the power of compliance directly into the hands of consumers.

The Mechanism of Trust

The new system addresses a critical vulnerability: the proliferation of counterfeit phones that lack proper security standards, making them easy gateways for cybercriminals.By dialing *#06#, users retrieve their IMEI number, which can then be sent via SMS to the short code 1555. The immediate response confirms the device's legitimacy—or marks it as a digital pariah.

• The Threat: Unverified devices are often used in "SIM boxing" and financial fraud, bypassing standard network security protocols.
• The Penalty: Vendors found selling non-compliant devices now face license revocation and prosecution, signaling the end of the "grey market" era.

Securing the M-Pesa Economy

This technical update is more than a regulatory box-ticking exercise; it is a firewall for the billions of shillings moved daily via M-Pesa. "We cannot win the war against financial crimes if our hardware itself is compromised," a CA spokesperson emphasized. The initiative forces a digital hygiene check on millions of subscribers.

As the deadline for compliance looms, the message to the "sin industry" of tech fraudsters is clear: the network is watching, and there is nowhere left to hide. The era of the burner phone is ending.