Unlisted Sims link in Westgate raid

Some of the suspects behind the Westgate attack covered their trails by using unregistered telephone SIM cards, according to joint investigations by security agents.

The investigations have revealed that although those who masterminded the attack communicated locally and internationally, none of their Sim cards were registered as required by law. More than 70 people were killed when terrorists attacked the Westgate Mall in Westlands.

Mobile phone companies had been given until the end of March to ensure that there were no unregistered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards operating on their networks, but preliminary investigations show that about 100 lines were successfully used by the terrorists without being registered.

This prompted the summoning of CEOs of the four mobile phone operators, who were questioned over the anomaly. The CEOs maintained that their companies had complied with the law.

However, Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said the telephone numbers linked to terrorists were not registered.

Once the investigations are completed, he warned, those found culpable would be prosecuted.

On Tuesday, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore was summoned to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Nairobi and left without addressing the media. However, he headed for the Norfolk Hotel where he and three other telco bosses issued a joint press statement.

The managing director of Bharti Airtel Kenya, Mr Shivan Bhargava, also reported to the Makadara CID director, Mr William Nangulu, for interrogation.

Mr Nangulu said the MD had been summoned over SIM card registration. Mr Bhargava was accompanied by two company lawyers.

LINES ARE NOT ACTIVE

Orange Kenya CEO Mickael Ghossein reported to the DCIO Kilimani where he recorded his statement, while Mr Madhur Taneja, CEO of the Essar Kenya, the company that operates yu, recorded a statement at Parklands CID offices.

At the press conference, Mr Taneja said unregistered lines are not active under the yuMobile network.

And Mr Collymore said: “We have disconnected nearly four million SIM cards since February this year.” He said that in their statements, they confirmed that they strictly adhere to CCK regulations.

While reading a joint statement on behalf of the company bosses, Safaricom corporate affairs director Nzioka Waita said they were “extremely displeasured” by the manner the issue was handled.

On Monday, the police and the ICT Cabinet Secretary warned that the four chief executives risked arrest over the sale of pre-activated SIM cards.

TERRORIST ACTIVITIES

Some of the companies’ agents were on Tuesday charged in court for selling SIM cards without first registering them as required by law.

The Daily Nation on Tuesday bought SIM cards from agents of the four mobile phone companies to test if they could be used without registration. Those from yu, Airtel and Orange did not work but Safaricom’s did.

In another development in the investigations into terrorist activities, a student at Murang’a Mixed Secondary School was arrested on suspicions that he has links with Al-Shabaab, the militants who claimed responsibility for the Westgate attack.

On Tuesday, Starehe OCPD Samuel Anampiu said that officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) were interrogating the Form Three student.