In a dramatic turn during this year’s Saba Saba Day protests, Kenyans were left stunned as the popular messaging app Telegram went offline for nearly four hours, sparking immediate uproar and speculation about state-sanctioned digital interference.
The unexpected blackout, which began around midday and coincided with the height of nationwide demonstrations, has raised serious concerns over freedom of expression, access to information, and the growing threat of digital suppression.
Users across major cities, including Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa, reported being unable to access the app, with messages failing to send or load. The outage, limited to Kenya, quickly fueled suspicions that the government may have deliberately disrupted the service to curb protest coordination.
For many, Telegram had become a critical tool for organizing, documenting, and sharing real-time updates during the protests, especially in the face of media blackouts and restricted movement.
Neither the Communications Authority of Kenya nor the Ministry of ICT had issued an official explanation by the time of publishing, further intensifying public distrust. Human rights organizations and digital rights advocates were quick to respond.
“If this was intentional, it represents a grave violation of Kenyans’ constitutional rights to access information and communicate freely,” said Mercy Achieng of the Kenya Digital Rights Forum.
Telegram’s service resumed late in the afternoon, but the damage was already done. Protesters expressed anger and frustration, while tech experts warned of a slippery slope toward state censorship.
The incident has renewed calls for transparency in government actions related to internet governance and sparked urgent demands for legislation to prevent future shutdowns.
As Kenya continues to confront mounting political and economic tensions, the battle over digital space may prove to be one of the defining frontiers of the country’s democratic struggle.
