Censorship – Telegram

*Ali Hussein*

Fintech | Digital Transformation

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

LinkedIn: Ali’s Profile <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
<ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
organizations that I work with.

On Sun, Nov 10, 2024 at 2:10 PM Wainaina Mungai <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Agreed…
>
> The answer may just be in that one question >> “Why not WhatsApp and
> other platforms?” 😎
>
> Regards,
>
> —
> Wainaina
>
> On Sun, Nov 10, 2024, 1:40 PM Ali Hussein via KICTANet <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Listers
>>
>> My concerns are as follows:-
>>
>> 1. The government should exercise transparency and issue a statement
>> outlining the measures it is using to curb cheating in exams. This includes
>> blocking Telegram, etc.
>> 2. The Players in the Telecom Sector, through their official Lobby Group,
>> TESPOK, should also issue a statement confirming or denying that the
>> government has ordered them to institute this blockade of Internet
>> Services, specifically Telegram. Why not WhatsApp and other platforms?
>> 3. Tespok should further tell the public how many times its members have
>> received these government orders and whether they have complied with them.
>>
>> The above measures will go a long way to allay fears and build confidence
>> in how the Government uses its powers to protect its citizens.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> *Ali Hussein*
>>
>> Fintech | Digital Transformation
>>
>>
>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>
>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>
>> LinkedIn: Ali’s Profile <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>> <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
>> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>> organizations that I work with.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Nov 9, 2024 at 12:21 PM Odhiambo Washington via KICTANet <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> As the Defo’s (devil) advocate, I have these questions:
>>> 1. Do we support the government’s efforts to curb Exam cheating?
>>> 2. Do we allow the government to use every way possible to achieve (1)
>>> above?
>>> For me, I suppose (2) is agreeable.
>>>
>>> We all know that the govt has the ability, legal or otherwise, to effect
>>> censorship of the Internet.
>>> In this case, only Mobile Network Operators were directed to do the
>>> ‘censorship’. Zuku, Liquid Telecom, China Telecom, etc were left out.
>>> I saw a letter from the CA (I can’t attest to its authenticity) that
>>> purportedly gave this directive. I think in such a case where the govt is
>>> open about the censorship, it should not be an issue, no?
>>>
>>> [image: 686053e3-b435-4c80-89b8-5d249d90344f.jpeg]
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Nov 8, 2024 at 8:45 PM Michael Felix via KICTANet <
>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It’s been 72hrs and Telegram is not currently available in Kenya unless
>>>> you are using a VPN or proxy.
>>>>
>>>> An article by Kictanet
>>>> posts.kictanet.or.ke/tele-gone-telegram-down-is-it-an-internet-shutdown/ noted
>>>> this same time last year.
>>>>
>>>> Is it a coincidence?
>>>>
>>>> Some say it’s to STOP exam cheating, others say it’s a show of the
>>>> government’s mighty power.
>>>>
>>>> Partinet questions were asked on the article but since we did not get
>>>> answers, it is back. No consequences. But I ask the same questions again.
>>>>
>>>> “After Telegram, what else will be shut down? What will be the next
>>>> excuse?
>>>> What direction do we want to take as a country?”
>>>>
>>>> What are your thoughts?
>>>> —
>>>> *Thank you.*
>>>>
>>>> *Regards*
>>>>
>>>> *Michael Felix*
>>>>
>>>>