For the past two weeks, Telegram has been experiencing daytime disruptions in Kenya, leaving over 700 million active users worldwide without access during critical hours. This outage has sparked concern among Kenyan users, especially as the service’s downtime aligns with the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, essential for students seeking college admission.
Despite growing frustration, neither internet agencies nor major telecom providers—Safaricom, Telkom, and Airtel—have addressed the issue publicly. The Kenyan Communications Authority (CA), responsible for managing ICT operations, has also refrained from commenting, leaving users in the dark about the reasons for this prolonged outage.
Speculations of Exam-Related Censorship
Though unconfirmed, many speculate that the Telegram disruption is a strategic move to curb exam cheating during the KCSE. The popular messaging app, known for its cloud backups and large group capabilities, has unfortunately become a tool for some to circulate exam materials for profit. Authorities recently detained six individuals allegedly involved in this malpractice, further fueling suspicions that the disruption aims to protect the integrity of national exams.
Interestingly, the Telegram outage only occurs during the day—when exams are in progress—while night-time access remains unaffected. Users seeking continuous access have resorted to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the restriction.
Growing Popularity of Telegram in Kenya
Telegram has gained popularity among Kenyan users, including businesses and media outlets, due to its unique features like large groups and channels, which allow organizations to communicate efficiently with thousands of followers. This unexpected interruption has disrupted daily communication and affected various organizations that rely on the platform for timely updates and business operations.
AccessNow Pushes for Answers
Digital rights group AccessNow has raised concerns, formally requesting transparency from Kenyan authorities and telecom providers. In letters to Safaricom, Telkom, Airtel, and ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, AccessNow stated that blocking access to essential communication platforms restricts the rights of Kenyans to free expression and access to information, as protected under Article 35 of the Kenyan Constitution.
AccessNow’s appeal for clarity, combined with rising public frustration, has amplified calls for an official explanation. However, there has been no response from either the Communications Authority or the major telcos involved.
Telcos and ISPs Remain Tight-Lipped
Attempts by TechCabal to contact major telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) have been unsuccessful, adding to user frustration. It’s noteworthy that Jamii Telecoms users report no service disruptions, highlighting an inconsistency in the outage’s reach across networks.
As the KCSE exams conclude, there is hope among Kenyans that Telegram service will fully resume. Meanwhile, the silence from relevant agencies has led to speculation on the ethics of platform restriction in the digital age and the broader implications for user rights in Kenya.
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