This ability is similar to mage hand, except you can move an object that weighs up to 5 pounds per 2 kineticist levels you possess (minimum 5 pounds), and you can move magical objects. Additionally, you can create a container of entwined strands of aether in order to hold liquids or piles of small objects of the same weight. You can dip the container to pick up or drop a liquid as a move action. If you possess the extended range wild talent, you can increase the range of basic telekinesis to medium range and increase the rate of movement to 30 feet per round, and if you possess the extreme range wild talent, You can increase the range of basic telekinesis to long range and increase the rate of movement to 60 feet per round. You can also use your basic telekinesis to duplicate the effects of the open/close cantrip.
You point your finger at an object and can lift it and move it at will from a distance. As a move action, you can propel the object as far as 15 feet in any direction, though the spell ends if the distance between you and the object ever exceeds the spell's range.
Basic Telekinesis is a Spell-like Ability, meaning it has no Verbal or Somatic components. The bolded text in Mage Hand says that you must point at the object you wish to move. Is this considered the Somatic Component for the spell, or is this in addition to it? The answer has, I think, obvious repercussions to a would-be pickpocket using Basic Telekinesis.
There is a differentiation between the Somatic Components necessary to CAST a spell and any gestures or movements necessary to USE the spell once it has been cast.
For example, if one were to cast a Stilled Produce Flame, there would be no Somatic Components to CASTING the spell, but you would still need to manually touch your target or use a throwing motion to hurl the flames at a target.
EDIT: This means I disagree with Val'bryn above.
Stick your hand in your cloak and point at the object. It never says your finger needs a clear line of sight. It also doesn't exactly say you have to keep pointing your finger after the initial cast.
But I think there are rules or a FAQ saying that people can still detect that you used a spell like ability, even though there aren't any somatic or verbal components.
It sounds like the majority are in agreement that pointing your finger IS required, and the pickpocket in question should simply use his remaining guile to hide his pointing finger.
Now, applying this as a rule, how would this effect the same Kineticist who's effectively helpless, and tries to use Basic Telekinesis. Again, it's a SLA, and requires no components to cast, but as mage Hand states, he MUST point his finger at the object he wishes to move. Is he unable to lift that key with Basic Telekinesis and move it into the lock that holds the chains keeping him bound?
I'm pretty sure I could point my finger at something even if my hands were bound. As I mentioned, it never says your finger needs clear line of sight. So, if my hands were tied behind me, i'd just point through my body at the object.
We could try to summon the Seifter, but the kineticist is a pretty handsy class in general. You need a free hand to fire a blast and and a free hand to gather energy. It wouldn't be surprising if you needed a semi-free hand to do the mage hand thing too.
I still contend that you don't have to actually maintain the pointing though. It's more like "Tag! I'm controlling you now."