Kenyan techie develops remote that triggers ‘huyu ni mwizi’ alarm when phone is stolen

A Kenyan technology developer, Eliud Gilisho, has developed a remote-controlled device that triggers a loud alarm on a phone whenever it is snatched, warning people nearby that a theft has taken place.

The innovation is designed to make it difficult for thieves to escape unnoticed, with the phone repeatedly announcing that the person carrying it is a thief.

Gilisho said his experience with phone theft inspired him to develop the technology after he was attacked and lost his phone. He explained that the incident left him without important contacts, documents and other information stored on the device, prompting him to find a way of preventing similar experiences.

“I was stabbed, and they took my phone. I lost contacts, documents and everything. So that is how I vowed that I will never let phone theft happen as long as I am alive,” Gilisho said on Monday, November 9, 2026, during an interview with a local TV station.

The developer said he came up with a remote that allows a phone owner to activate the alarm when someone grabs their device. He is also working on transitioning the remote into a watch, which would make it easier for users to trigger the alarm.

Gilisho explained that the device is activated by pressing a button on the remote once a phone has been snatched. The phone then starts producing a loud alarm, repeatedly announcing that the person holding it has stolen it.

“I have come up with a remote, which I am now transitioning to a watch. This particular remote, if your phone is snatched, if you press the remote like this, your phone starts screaming, saying huyu ni mwizi. This is a thief,” he explained.

He said the technology is designed to prevent the person who has taken the phone from stopping the alarm. According to Gilisho, the thief cannot switch off the device or lower its volume once the alarm has been activated.

“The thief or the person who has snatched your phone can’t switch off your phone, and they cannot reduce the volume. The only time your phone will switch off is when it will die of battery,” Gilisho said.

The innovation comes amid concerns about phone theft in Kenya, with estimates indicating that three in every 10 Kenyans have lost a phone to theft. Nairobi alone reportedly records about 10 stolen phones every 20 minutes.

The technology also includes an app that can track a stolen phone and capture the thief’s location.

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