Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition strongly condemn the ongoing disruption of internet access and increased
crackdown on the people of Kenya amid protests.
“Restricting access to the internet during protests is a flagrant violation of fundamental rights and a threat to
people’s safety both online and off,” said Felicia Anthonio, #KeepItOn Campaign Manager at Access Now. “The government
of Kenya must take measures to ensure that access to the internet and essential communications platforms is guaranteed
across the country in times of crisis.”
On June 18, 2024, nationwide protests broke out in Kenya opposing the 2024 Finance Bill, which imposes heavy taxes on
essential goods. Mobilizers called for peaceful protest today, June 25, as parliament passed the bill. Tensions have
quickly escalated, and police have violently cracked down on protesters using water cannons, tear gas, and shooting live
rounds into crowds. At approximately 3:00 pm local time, a group of protesters breached the parliament building in
Nairobi and part of the building caught fire. At least five people have been reported dead, and emergency service
providers have reported being unable to provide adequate medical assistance as the situation continues to escalate.
Shortly after, starting at approximately 4:00 pm local time on June 25, connectivity dropped nationwide by nearly 40%
across at least 20 networks according to measurements from IODA and Cloudflare. Cloudflare reports impacts on major
networks including Safaricom, Wananchi, and JTL (Jamii Telecommunications). Signal and X (formerly Twitter) also saw an
increase in anomalies in Kenya due to connectivity issues, mostly on Safaricom. Safaricom sent a customer notice
claiming the disruptions to both internet services and the M-PESA electronic payment app are a result of “an outage on
two of our under sea cables.” Airtel issued a similar notice, indicating disruptions to undersea cables have impacted
their services.
Neighboring countries Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, which all share upstream providers with Kenya, are also experiencing
similar drops in connectivity.
The situation is evolving rapidly and #KeepItOn coalition members are continuing to investigate these ongoing
disruptions and the technical means by which they have been implemented. However, the targeted nature of the
disruptions, happening at the height of protest activity in Kenya and impacting Kenya’s largest networks, strongly
suggests disruptions are being imposed intentionally. At the time of publishing, connectivity has continued to worsen
since disruptions began.
“Authorities and telecoms providers alike should be doing everything in their power to ensure open, secure, and reliable
access to mobile networks, online communications platforms, mobile payment apps, and other essential services during
moments of heightened tension,” said Naro Omo-Osagie, Africa Policy and Advocacy Manager at Access Now. “Instead, we are
seeing the opposite, despite prior commitments to uphold free expression and access to information.”
On June 24, 2024, the Communication Authority issued a press release on its X account, assuring Kenyans and the general
public that it had no intention of shutting down the internet or interfering with the quality of connectivity following
rising concerns that a shutdown was under consideration.
These disruptions are a major step backward for Kenya, which has previously been an important stronghold against
shutdowns in the region. Kenya imposed its first internet shutdown in November 2023 when authorities blocked Telegram
during national exams. Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition reached out to authorities demanding clarification on why
Telegram was blocked and asking the government to immediately restore access. Previously in 2022, we warned that
authorities in Kenya were exploring the possibility of platform blocking in a disproportionate response to
misinformation around the 2022 elections.
President Ruto’s regime has severally underscored the importance of the internet as an enabler for development through
their policies including by prioritizing “the Digital Super Highway as a key driver for the country’s transformation,
creation of jobs and growth,” and committing to launch 25,000 WiFi hotspots countrywide. The situation today is not
reflective of these commitments. Kenya is also a member of the Freedom Online Coalition – a coalition of 39 governments
which have taken joint positions and repeated actions against internet shutdowns around the world. Kenya’s constitution
guarantees the right to peaceful protest and free expression. Likewise, disruptions to internet access and
communications platforms are recognized by the United Nations human rights mechanisms as a violation of international
human rights law.
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition call on the government of Kenya and telecom service providers to immediately
restore full access, refrain from any further disruption to connectivity, and commit to upholding human rights as
Kenyans exercise their rights online and offline. Authorities must actively work to strengthen connectivity throughout
the protest period to ensure people’s safety, right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and access to
essential services and communications channels.