The Communications Authority of Kenya has ordered a temporary suspension of the Telegram messaging app across the country.
The decision comes amid rising concerns over Telegram’s use in facilitating illegal activities, including the sharing of exam questions and answers during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
In a letter sent to network providers, the Communications Authority ordered that all mobile service providers, including Safaricom, Airtel, and Jamii Telecom, suspend access to Telegram during critical exam hours.
The suspension will be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m, Monday through Friday, through November 22nd.
While the government insists this is a necessary step to protect the credibility of the KCSE exams, the decision has sparked frustration among businesses and social media managers who rely on the platform for marketing and communication.
Despite this, authorities have expressed disappointment at Telegram’s lack of cooperation in removing the offending channels linked to criminal activities.
