The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has instructed local telecom providers to restrict access to Telegram during morning hours while Kenya’s national secondary exams (KCSE) are administered.
The letter, dated October 31 was addressed to key providers including Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and Jamii Telecommunications Limited, explaining the necessity of restricting Telegram services between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. during KCSE exam period.
The directive, issued by CA Managing Director, David Mungonyi, cited reports of alleged misuse of the messaging platform to compromise the integrity of the national exams.
“The Authority has become aware that the Telegram platform is being misused to facilitate criminal activities, including actions that compromise the integrity of ongoing national exams,” stated a portion of the CA’s letter.
In the letter, Mungonyi requested telecom operators to “use all available mechanisms to suspend the operation of Telegram Inc. in the country” during exam times.
The CA expressed frustration with Telegram’s response to past requests, highlighting its lack of cooperation in addressing misuse of the platform by certain groups.
“While other social media platforms operating in Kenya have taken steps to address misuse, Telegram has remained non-responsive and continues to host forums that breach Kenyan laws,” Mr Mungonyi stated.
The disruptions, initially noted by Telegram users, were confirmed by Netblocks, an internet watchdog organization.
In a Friday report, Netblocks attributed the interruptions to preventive measures taken during the KCSE exams, consistent with past practices in Kenya aimed at curbing cheating through messaging platforms.
In a related development, Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang warned school heads against exam-related malpractices following the recent arrest of teachers allegedly involved in cheating during the 2024 KCSE.
Separately, Safaricom has faced scrutiny over allegations of sharing user information with police, which it clarified only occurs under legal frameworks requiring a court order.