By John Majau
Police officers in Imenti North District have arrested two Chinese nationals who were found selling fake mobile handsets in Meru Town to unsuspecting customers.
Area police boss Tom Mboya Ondero said the two suspects Zeng Mingai, 38, and Wu Qinglin, 35, were arrested by police after members of the public raised an alarm.
He said police also managed to recover 39 new assorted mobile phones of different models, some of them being very sophisticated and expensive.
“The crackdown came barely hours after the residents registered several complains that their phones broke down after using them for a few days," said the OCPD.
Residents also claimed they could not trace the sellers of the phone, but the duo were arrested as they went about their business in Meru town.
He said the two were in the country on holiday trip and not to engage in any trade.
Odero said the suspects sold the counterfeit handsets at between Sh2,000 and Sh2,500.
The Communications Commission of Kenya has announced that it will switch off fake phones on September and the OCPD urged Kenyans to be careful by counter checking before buying any item from the streets.
"I call upon everyone to purchase their phones from recognised and certified dealers who can offer the required warranty,” he said.
“We shall continue with this exercise to save Kenyans who might be duped into buying fake handsets and though foreigners are very much welcome to our country, they have to abide by the law of the land,” said the OCPD.
The duo will be charged in court once investigations are complete.
