Kenya recently experienced a significant internet disruption, impacting connectivity in not only the country but also neighbouring nations. Despite the government’s emphasis on developing the digital economy to empower the youth, the abrupt drop in internet access has raised concerns. Local network providers attributed the disruption to physical damage to undersea cables, but global cybersecurity experts refute this claim.
Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker reveals that Kenya’s internet restriction is the first government-imposed incident in the country but aligns with a growing trend in Africa. With 119 cases of internet censorship recorded across 26 African countries since 2015, governments often resort to such measures to suppress dissent.
The economic impact of internet shutdowns is significant, with Kenya losing an estimated $13.5 million in GDP for every hour of total internet blackout. As citizens turn to virtual private networks to bypass restrictions, the debate on the balance between security and freedom of expression intensifies.