- Kenyaʼs Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, has denied the allegations that detectives are collaborating with mobile service providers to conduct unauthorised tracking and monitoring of citizens.
- This follows a report claiming that, for years, the security agencies have had unfettered access to mobile phone customersʼ sensitive call records and location data to track and capture suspected criminals but also violating innocent usersʼ right to privacy.
- Mohamed has dismissed the accusations as baseless, stating that any data obtained from service providers complies with legal protocols.
“On the issue of police conspiring with mobile service providers, we don’t do that completely. If we are interested in getting information from the service providers, we do so through the lawful means. We go to the courts, swear affidavits, and serve that order to the service providers. It is only after we get the orders that we have the service providers to work with us,” he added.
Mohamed explained that mobile phone data constitutes a minor aspect of the agency’s investigative process.
He clarified that while conducting investigations, the agency does not solely depend on mobile phones, noting that mobile phone analysis accounts for only one per cent of their work.
Mohamed emphasised that successful investigations are primarily due to forensic analyses and evidence collection adding the DCI and the NPS do not completely rely on mobile service providers.
This development has generated reactions from Kenyan citizens, civil society, and the international community, raising concerns about potential privacy violations. U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, has also called for caution, urging the government to respect privacy rights and uphold democratic principles.
Recent reports indicate a growing public scrutiny of police conduct in Kenya, especially concerning allegations of abductions and killings of young Kenyans involved in recent protests.
Amid this, Kenya has announced new regulations to enforce tax compliance of mobile devices. Effective January 1, 2025, all local device assemblies are required to upload the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number of each assembled device to the Kenya Revenue Authority-provided portal to ensure tax compliance.
This has been met with mixed reactions with a social media user expressing that it is a violation of privacy that has nothing to do with tax and everything to do with tracking citizens.
