ELDORET, Kenya – Police in Eldoret have arrested two men suspected of running an illicit operation to hack and resell stolen mobile phones, including devices from credit-based provider M-KOPA.
The arrests, which took place on Wednesday, followed a public tip-off that led National Police Service (NPS) officers—working alongside M-KOPA security personnel—to a phone repair shop near the Eldoret Shuttle booking office.
There, authorities found the two suspects allegedly in the process of “flashing” 28 mobile phones, a term used to describe the illegal reprogramming or unlocking of devices.
Police say the suspects are believed to be part of a wider syndicate involved in tampering with phones stolen or acquired through credit schemes, including M-KOPA’s popular pay-as-you-go smartphone programme.
The goal: bypass security locks to make the devices usable and resell them on the black market.
CRACKDOWN ON MOBILE PHONE HACKING SYNDICATE IN ELDORETOn 29 May 3025, while acting on a tip-off from the public, officers from the National Police Service (NPS) in Eldoret, in collaboration with M-KOPA’s liaison personnel, arrested two suspects in connection with a mobile phone
During the raid, officers recovered a cache of high-end electronics believed to be used in the illegal operation.
Among the items seized were two HP laptops, two CPUs, seven hard drives, a Pandora Box, a dongle, and a JTAG device—specialised tools used to alter IMEI numbers, override software locks, and disable security features.
Both suspects are currently being held at Eldoret Police Station as detectives carry out forensic analysis on the recovered equipment and investigate links to a broader criminal network.
Authorities have warned that buying tampered or flashed devices not only supports illegal trade but also risks criminal prosecution for possession of stolen property.
The public can report such activities through the toll-free lines 999, 911, 112, or anonymously via #FichuakwaDCI on 0800 722 203.
M-KOPA, a leading digital finance company, has faced increasing losses from device fraud, especially in urban centres where the resale of illegally unlocked phones remains rampant.
The company works closely with law enforcement to track stolen or defaulted devices.
