Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenyan National Police Service has issued a stern warning to mobile phone users against the illegal practice of reprogramming, commonly known as “flashing,” devices purchased on credit, particularly those acquired through the popular "Lipa Mdogo Mdogo" (pay slowly) installment plans. The alert, disseminated on May 30, comes in the wake of the arrest of two suspects in Eldoret who were allegedly caught re-flashing 28 smartphones to enable users to evade their outstanding installment payments.

Syndicate Uncovered

National Police Spokesperson Charles Muguna revealed that the apprehended individuals were part of a syndicate specializing in altering both stolen mobile phones and devices financed through credit schemes. “The police service warns the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mobile devices or taking part in fraudulent activities such as altering device identifiers,” Muguna stated. During the operation, investigators recovered SIM de-scramblers and various tools used for phone reprogramming from a shop where the suspects reportedly operated.

Legal and Consumer Advice

Authorities emphasized that Kenya’s Communication Authority regulations require all mobile phones to be officially registered, and the act of flashing breaches the device’s original identity, often involving IMEI tampering, which is a criminal offense. The Cybercrimes Unit has urged anyone with information regarding such illicit activities to contact the police through toll-free lines (999, 911, or 112). Consumers were strongly advised to always purchase mobile phones from authorized vendors and to ensure that devices remain on the approved network list, especially if not fully paid off, to avoid complicity in fraudulent schemes.