Safaricom Reportedly Disrupts Telegram Access in Kenya During KCSE Exams

• Safaricom’s action impacted home fiber and mobile data users from 10:30 AM, restoring access by early afternoon.

• Telegram remained operational on rival networks like Airtel and Telkom Kenya, isolating the outage to Safaricom.

• According to KNEC reports, 18 Telegram channels were flagged for circulating exam papers, with 123 arrests in the past year for irregularities.

Discover why Safaricom blocked Telegram in Kenya amid 2025 KCSE exams: exam leak prevention versus user access rights. Stay informed on digital disruptions and telecom policies—read more now.

What Caused the Safaricom Telegram Block in Kenya?

The Safaricom Telegram block in Kenya occurred on Monday as national secondary school examinations commenced, aiming to prevent leaks through digital platforms. Thousands of users on Safaricom’s home fiber and mobile data networks reported inability to access the Telegram app and web platform starting around 10:30 AM local time. Services were restored after more than three hours, but the incident underscores efforts by authorities to secure the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) process, according to investigations by local and international observers.

How Has Telegram Been Used in Kenyan Exam Leaks?

Telegram has emerged as a key channel for circulating unauthorized exam materials in Kenya, prompting regulatory actions during testing periods. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) highlighted in its August fraud watch report that 18 out of 51 monitored Telegram channels were involved in sharing KCSE and KASNEB exam papers. This follows a pattern where digital platforms facilitate rapid dissemination of leaks, evading traditional oversight.

Nation Africa detailed in late October that authorities arrested 123 teachers and 10 students over the last 12 months for examination irregularities, with KNEC officials noting that implicated educators outnumber students in fraud cases. A senior KNEC official emphasized to reporters, “As we speak, the problem is no longer just with the students, it’s with those in charge,” pointing to systemic issues within schools. Short-term blocks like this one are seen as a reactive measure, though critics argue for enhanced monitoring over widespread disruptions. Data from the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) Foundation reveals similar interferences during the 2023 and 2024 KCSE periods, including DNS tampering and IP restrictions on networks like Safaricom, Airtel, and Jambonet, affecting Telegram’s website and app endpoints even beyond exam hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Safaricom specifically block Telegram during the 2025 KCSE exams?

Safaricom blocked Telegram to address KNEC’s concerns over exam leaks, as the platform hosts channels flagged for circulating papers. This aligns with past efforts to secure national tests, though no official statement from Safaricom or the Communications Authority of Kenya has confirmed the move. Disruptions lasted over three hours, impacting users during peak exam times.

Is the Telegram block in Kenya related to protests or just exams?

The recent Telegram block in Kenya primarily ties to the 2025 KCSE exams for leak prevention, unlike the June 25 incident during anti-tax protests when multiple platforms faced nationwide throttling. Digital rights groups like the Kenya Human Rights Commission have warned against such shutdowns, citing court orders prohibiting internet restrictions during demonstrations to protect free expression.

Key Takeaways

• Exam Security Measures: Kenya’s KNEC flags Telegram as a high-risk platform for leaks, leading to targeted network blocks during KCSE, with 18 channels implicated in recent reports.
• Network-Specific Impact: The outage affected only Safaricom users, sparing Airtel and Telkom, and echoes prior interferences documented by OONI, including TLS disruptions and DNS redirects.
• Legal and Rights Concerns: Groups like KHRC reference court orders against shutdowns, emphasizing that throttling social media could invite legal action and calls for balanced digital policies.

Conclusion

The Safaricom Telegram block in Kenya during the 2025 KCSE exams illustrates the ongoing challenge of balancing exam integrity with unrestricted digital access. With KNEC reporting heightened fraud involving Telegram channels and over 100 arrests in the past year, such measures aim to protect the education system, yet they raise questions about broader internet freedoms. As Kenya navigates these tensions—evident in protest-related disruptions earlier this year—stakeholders urge innovative solutions like advanced monitoring over blanket blocks. For the latest on telecom policies and digital rights in Kenya, continue exploring developments in the region.

Kenya’s largest telecommunications provider, Safaricom, implemented a temporary block on Telegram Messenger, coinciding with the start of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. This action disrupted connectivity for numerous users, highlighting the intersection of technology, education, and regulatory oversight in the country.

Reports from various local outlets indicate that issues began around 10:30 AM on Monday, affecting both home fiber and mobile data subscribers who could not reach the Telegram app or its web interface. Investigations suggest the block was lifted after approximately three hours, allowing normal access to resume. Notably, the service continued without interruption on competing networks such as Airtel and Telkom Kenya, limiting the scope to Safaricom’s infrastructure.

This development unfolded as students across Kenya sat for their critical national examinations, a period when authorities intensify efforts to prevent malpractices. The timing has fueled speculation and discussions about the role of messaging apps in exam integrity.

Efforts to Combat Exam Leaks via Digital Platforms

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has long grappled with the challenge of leaks propagated through untracked online spaces, particularly Telegram and WhatsApp. In its August fraud watch report, KNEC identified 18 active Telegram channels out of 51 reviewed as potential vectors for distributing KCSE and Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) materials.

Further underscoring the severity, Nation Africa reported in late October on the arrest of 123 educators and 10 students linked to exam irregularities over the preceding year. KNEC officials have shifted focus to institutional involvement, with a senior representative stating to media, “The problem extends beyond students to those responsible for oversight,” indicating a higher incidence of teacher and administrator complicity compared to student actions.

Community sentiment, as voiced on platforms like the r/Kenya subreddit, critiques these blocks as insufficient and overly broad. One user remarked, “Blocking Telegram to stop leaks admits defeat in addressing the root causes of fraud.” Historical data from the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) Foundation corroborates recurring patterns: during the 2023 and 2024 KCSE sessions, Telegram faced intermittent blocks across Safaricom, Airtel, and state-backed Jambonet networks.

OONI’s analysis detailed technical tactics employed, such as blocking telegram.org, disrupting Transport Layer Security (TLS) handshakes, and DNS manipulations that rerouted queries to domestic IP addresses instead of Telegram’s servers. Additionally, IP-level restrictions on app endpoints and persistent connection timeouts were observed, even outside exam windows, suggesting a more pervasive monitoring regime.

Neither Safaricom nor the Communications Authority (CA) has issued formal commentary on the event, leading online communities to attribute it to routine KCSE security protocols. Frustration boiled over on social media, with one X (formerly Twitter) user posting, “Shutting down Telegram during every national exam like KCSE ignores innocent users—there must be smarter ways to handle platform abuses.”

Recurring Disruptions Amid Broader Context

This marks the second significant Telegram interruption in Kenya this year, following a widespread outage on June 25 amid historic protests against proposed government tax increases—the largest in the nation’s recent history. Monitoring entities and rights advocates, as covered by outlets like Cryptopolitan, described those events as intentional throttling of Telegram and X to limit protest coordination.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) responded decisively, reminding operators including Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom of a judicial prohibition on internet shutdowns during public assemblies. This directive stems from a ruling by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, prompted by petitions from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and civil society amid the 2024 blackouts.

KHRC stressed that any deliberate degradation, blocking, or throttling of internet access to social platforms constitutes contempt of court, potentially resulting in penalties. This legal framework aims to safeguard expression rights, even as exam security demands evolve in an increasingly digital landscape.

Overall, these incidents reflect Kenya’s delicate navigation of technological advancement and governance. With Telegram’s global user base exceeding 900 million and its encryption features making moderation challenging, local authorities face complex decisions. Future strategies may involve collaboration with tech firms for targeted content removal, reducing the need for network-wide interventions that affect everyday connectivity.

As the 2025 KCSE progresses, the focus remains on ensuring fairness without compromising broader access. Stakeholders, from educators to digital advocates, continue advocating for transparent policies that address fraud at its source while upholding user rights.