It is now illegal to import a mobile phone that does not offer a battery life of at least eight hours talk time or lacks a physical manual in new guidelines aimed at curbing fake gadgets.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) said in the latest Kenya Gazette notice the mobile phone import rules published earlier took effect on May 15.
The guidelines state that only licensed telecommunications vendors will be authorised to import and distribute mobile phones whose batteries are expected to last a minimum of 24 hours when the gadget is not in use.
The vendors will also provide at least a one-year warranty and after-sales support of a further two years for each device sold.
The government has been battling counterfeits coming into the country through grey markets and illegal channels, costing consumers and the government millions annually.