The Communications Authority of Kenya has directed the temporary suspension of Telegram social media over suspicion of enabling the Kenya Ceticate of Secondary Education (KCSE) malpractice.
As early as today, a section of Kenyan Telegram users reported a persistent access downtime, majorly through the cellular network. However, some were still able to access the platform through the Wi-Fi and VPN service providers.
This comes as the government struggles to contain cheating on the national exams, which are considered to be the most prestigious—a gateway of transitions to the next academic level. The exams, which began early this month, will go throughout the month to November 22, 2024.
A communication issued to the telecom service providers, including Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, and Jamii, by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), directs them to use the necessary means at their disposal to curb the leakage loopholes through Telegram.
“It has come to the attention of the Authority that the Telegram platforms are being misused to perpetrate criminal actvities, including compromising on the integrity of the ongoing examinations.” CAK
The AUthority added that several government agencies have reached out, seeking the full monitoring and control of Telgram, which CAK noticed to have remained non-cooperative as compared to other social media platforms.
“As a result, various government agencies have reached out to the Authority seeking assistance in taking down social media channels, including Telgram, 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 notice with dismay that Telegram has remained non-responsive and continues to house offending forums and channels in blatant breach of the laws and the general principles of Data Protection and Privacy,” CAK added.
The Ministry of Education has also warned the exam center managers or school principals against abetting the act of cheating and failing within their mandates to maintain integrity.
Henceforth, Telegram will remain temporarily suspended within the morning and afternoon hours, when the exams are being administered, until the last paper, ending in the last week of this month.
“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 between 7.00 a.m and 10.00 a.m in the morning and from 1.00 p.m and 4.00 p.m in the afternoon from Monday to Friday up to until November 22nd, 2024,” CAK directed.
The ban on Telegram in Kenya will have a ripple of economic effect in the country, as businesses will be forced to suspend their operations in honor of the directive. Kenya could lose an estimated billions of shillings, as was seen last year when the directive was fostered.
In 2023, NetBlocks, a London-based internet rights organization, reported that the daily loss amounted to around Ksh 537 million (approximately $3.4 million). The entire estimated loss for Kenya during the period was approximately $27 million in foreign sales, wages, and economic benefits associated with the use of Telegram.
