Safaricom, a leading telecommunications company, has addressed the ongoing internet access issues affecting Kenyans.
In a statement, Safaricom attributed the problems to an outage on two of their undersea cables responsible for delivering internet traffic to and from the country.
“We have activated redundancy measures to minimize service interruption and keep you connected as we await the full restoration of the cables,” the company explained. “You may, however, experience reduced internet speeds and intermittency on various apps including M-PESA Super App and Safaricom App.”
To mitigate the impact, Safaricom advised users to use USSD *334# for M-PESA services or the SIM Tool Kit. “We thank you for your patience and understanding,” the statement concluded.
Separately, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has dismissed rumors of an impending internet shutdown ahead of Tuesday’s anti-Finance Bill protests. CA Director General David Mugonyi addressed concerns in a press release, stating, “The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has received inquiries regarding an imminent Internet shutdown on Tuesday, 25th June 2024. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority has no intention whatsoever to shut down internet traffic or interfere with the quality of connectivity.”
Mugonyi emphasized that such actions would contravene the Constitution, violating freedom of expression and the CA’s principles. He reassured the public of the government’s commitment to the digital economy, noting that an internet shutdown would reverse progress and sabotage livelihoods reliant on connectivity.
