Kenya Bans Telegram, Shuts Down Major TV Stations Amid Crackdown on Protest Coverage

The Kenyan government intensified its clampdown on media and digital platforms on Wednesday by blocking access to the widely used messaging app Telegram and abruptly taking several major television stations off the air.

The sweeping measures came as part of a broader effort to suppress live coverage of anti-government protests held to mark the first anniversary of the deadly 2024 demonstrations against the controversial Finance Bill.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from civil society organizations, media bodies, and legal experts, who accused the government of undermining constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

Global internet watchdog NetBlocks was the first to flag the Telegram restriction, reporting a sudden and widespread drop in access across the country by mid-afternoon.

“Live network data shows a major disruption to internet connectivity in #Kenya. The incident comes amid a deadly police crackdown on #RejectFinanceBill2024 protesters, just a day after authorities insisted there would be no internet shutdown,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter).

By 4:00 PM local time, Telegram’s reach had dropped to just 1%, effectively cutting off millions of users from the encrypted app—widely used for protest coordination and real-time updates.

Analysts say the move is part of a broader government strategy to stifle dissent, control the flow of information, and weaken grassroots mobilisation.

The digital blackout was quickly followed by a media blackout, as top broadcasters KTN News, NTV, and Citizen TV were taken off air in compliance with a controversial directive from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

Dated June 25, 2025, the directive warned that airing live footage of the ongoing protests violated sections of the Kenyan Constitution and the Kenya Information and Communications Act.

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