The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced a temporary suspension of cloud-based messaging app, Telegram.
In a letter addressed to Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, Airtel Managing Director Ashish Malhotra, Telkom CEO Mugo Kibati, and Jamii Telecommunications CEO C.K. Joshua, CA said the messaging App was being used for criminal activities.
In the letter dated October 31, 2024, CA explained that it had received requests to take down social media channels and forums being used to compromise the integrity of the ongoing exams.
"It has come to the attention of the Authority that the Telegram platform is being misused to perpetrate criminal activities, including compromising on the integrity of the ongoing national examinations. As a result, various government agencies have reached out to the Authority seeking assistance in taking down social media channels and forums, including Telegram, that are interfering with the integrity of our national examinations.
"Whereas all other social media platforms operating in Kenya have taken steps to address misuse of their platforms, we note with dismay that Telegram Inc. has remained non-responsive and continues to host offending forums and channels in blatant breach of the laws of the land and the general principles of Data Protection and Privacy," part of the statement read.
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CA directed all mobile network operators to suspend the operation of Telegram during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KCSE) examinations.
"By this letter, all Mobile Network Operators are hereby directed to use all available mechanisms to suspend the operation of Telegram Inc in the country particularly during the administration of the KCSE examinations from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the morning and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon from Monday to Friday up to until November 22nd, 2024.," the letter concluded.
For the better part of Friday, Kenyans have complained of significant issues accessing Telegram, with many reporting experiencing intermittent outages.
As such, users are resorting to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions.
