Kenya’s 2024 Internet Shutdown: An Analysis
starting around 5:00 pm and lasting until approximately 12:30 am on June
26, 2024. Depending on who you ask, some services are still struggling
indicating the possibility of more trottling. This shutdown coincided with
the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests, which saw unprecedented participation
from the youth of Kenya.During the Internet shutdown, major networks such
as Safaricom’s 5G, 4G, and fiber services were affected. Neighboring
landlocked countries that rely on undersea cables terminating at Kenya’s
coast, including Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, also experienced connectivity
issues.Despite prior assurances from the Communications Authority of Kenya
(CA) <x.com/CA_Kenya/status/1805311316719993274> that there would
be no internet shutdown, the disruption occurred, raising several critical
questions.Discussion Points:
1. Cause of the Shutdown:
– What were the reasons behind the internet shutdown? Was it a
deliberate act by the government?
– How credible are the claims by ISPs like Safaricom
<x.com/SafaricomPLC/status/1805615681951375595> that the
disruptions were due to issues with undersea cables?
2. Extent and Impact:
– Which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were involved in the
shutdown? Were there differences in the extent of the disruption across
different ISPs?
– How did the shutdown affect essential services such as mobile
payment systems (e.g., M-PESA) and emergency services?
3. Authority and Orders:
– Who gave the orders for the shutdown? Was there any official
documentation or communication from the government or regulatory bodies?
– What role did the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) play
during the shutdown, and how did their actions align with their prior
statements?
4. Technical and Legal Implications:
– What measurement tools and probes were used by techies to
understand the extent of the shutdown? What were the findings?
– How does this shutdown align with Kenya’s constitutional guarantees
of freedom of expression and access to information?
5. Regional Impact:
– How did the shutdown in Kenya affect neighboring countries that
rely on its internet infrastructure?
– What measures can be taken to prevent such widespread disruptions
in the future?
The internet shutdown in Kenya has significant implications for digital
rights, economic activities, and regional connectivity. It is crucial to
conduct a thorough postmortem to understand the causes, impacts, and
preventive measures to ensure such disruptions do not recur. It is
important to note that KICTAnet and other partners
<www.kictanet.or.ke/joint-statement-a-call-against-internet-shutdowns-in-kenya-during-june-2024-demonstrations/>
issued
a statement urging the government to #KeepItOn just a day before the event.
Best Regards,
______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva