The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested a key suspect believed to be behind a well-organized phone theft syndicate operating in Naivasha.
The suspect was apprehended on Friday, April 25, during a sting operation at his shop located in the Sera Centre Building in Naivasha town.
According to a statement from the DCI, detectives found the suspect in the act of flashing stolen mobile phones a process that wipes user data and security features, making the devices appear new and ready for resale.
During the raid, police recovered 27 stolen phones, a laptop, and a mobile phone flashing kit used to erase digital footprints from the devices.
“Naivasha detectives have apprehended a notorious figure in the illegal trade of stolen mobile phones,” DCI said, confirming that the arrest followed a tip-off from reliable intelligence sources.
Mobile flashing is typically used to reinstall or fix phone firmware.
However, criminals misuse flashing tools to bypass screen locks, erase user data, and in some cases, change a phone’s IMEI number its unique identifier making stolen phones difficult to trace.
Once altered, the phones are sold in second-hand markets, often presented as refurbished or clean devices.
The illegal practice has grown rapidly in Kenya, fueled in part by the popularity of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) smartphone financing models.
Between July and September 2023, the BNPL sector reportedly lost over sh100 million to phone flashing-related fraud.
The scheme has been particularly rampant in urban areas such as Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisii, and Kitale.
In Kenya, unauthorized flashing and tampering with phone software is a criminal offense.
Under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, offenders risk a fine of up to sh5 million, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
In more severe cases involving interference with critical systems, penalties may increase to Ksh10 million or five years in jail.
The Penal Code also provides for charges related to fraud, forgery, and handling stolen property, with possible jail terms of up to seven years depending on the offense.
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