A report by UK-based internet organisations has revealed that Kenya lost over Ksh4.2 billion in eight days following the disruption of Telegram by the government.
According to NetBlock and Top10VPN, the outage that was witnessed on the social media platform was occasioned by the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations which took place in November 2023.
The disruptions were reported to have been part of the government's strategies to curb examination cheating.
Occasionally, leaked exam papers are shared with students and schools through the platform.
"Recent apprehensions in Kenya have highlighted the growing concern around the misuse of social media platforms, particularly Telegram, for leaking examination papers. Six administrators of various Telegram channels were detained for their involvement in malpractices related to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) national exams.
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a coordinated effort with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Communications Authority of Kenya, conducted a multi-agency operation leading to these arrests," read the report in part.
However, due to the disruptions, Kenyan businesses that rely on the platform were affected as they could not offer their services.
According to the estimates, Kenyans were losing around Ksh525 million daily.
Further, the research firms cautioned Kenya against such disruption noting that they were detrimental to the economy and against constitutional rights.
"NetBlocks recommends against the use of network disruptions and social media restrictions to counter exam cheating, given their disproportionate impact to internet users including to their freedom of expression and digital prosperity," read the statement in part.
Alternatively, the government was encouraged to develop technology solutions that counter internet shutdowns during these periods.
Engagement with learning institutions to curb exam cheating was also advocated for as an alternative to the clampdowns.
