Court stops communications agency from phone tapping

The Communications Authority of Kenya offices in Nairobi. A court on February 20, 2017 stopped the government’s plan to tap into private phone conversations. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Mr Omtatah had claimed that the directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) will infringe on privacy and is a violation of the Constitution.
• Communications Authority of Kenya Director-General Francis Wangusi last week said a proliferation of illegal devices demanded the speedy implementation of the system.
• CA has already awarded Broadband Communications Networks Ltd the tender to deliver, install, test, commission and maintain a device through which the project will be implemented.

Advertisement

A court has stopped the government’s plan to tap into private phone conversations which was set to begin on Tuesday.

High Court Judge John Mativo on Monday granted the orders following an application filed by activist Okiya Omtatah.

Mr Omtatah had claimed that the directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) will infringe on privacy and is a violation of the Constitution.

Justice Mativo directed that the temporary orders stopping the implementation of the directive will remain in force until the case is concluded. He also certified the application urgent and directed that it be heard on March 6.

The agency has already awarded Broadband Communications Networks Ltd the tender to deliver, install, test, commission and maintain a device through which the project will be implemented.

Mr Omtatah argued in his application that “CA’s arbitrary decision to spy on Kenyans through Broadband Communications Networks violates both the law and Constitution”.

ILLEGAL DEVICES

CA Director-General Francis Wangusi last week said a proliferation of illegal devices demanded the speedy implementation of the system.

But legal experts have criticised the agency, citing other options that can be used without violating the law.

Former Law Society of Kenya CEO Apollo Mboya said the agency had not demonstrated that it had exploited other possible means to achieve its intended goal of controlling counterfeit phones. He said the Kenya Bureau of Standards could stem the flow of counterfeit goods.

“The government can tighten security at the borders where these illegal imports are coming through, and also ensure enactment of the data protection laws,” said Mr Mboya.

He said no data protection system put in place. “It (data) can fall into the wrong hands and can be misused by people who have harvested it,” said Mr Mboya, adding that the threat of impersonation could not be underestimated.