There was widespread protests on Tuesday against Kenya’s Finance Bill 2024 which escalated into violence, with reports of internet throttling and disruptions adding to the chaos.
The demonstrations, organized under the hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024, saw a significant turnout, reflecting widespread public discontent. Tragically, the protests resulted in the death of several including fatalities and heightened concerns about digital rights and freedom of expression.
NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization, noted that the internet disruptions not only impacted Kenya but also extended to neighboring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. These disruptions likely obscured the full scope of the protests from both local and international audiences.
Despite initial denials from the Communications Authority of Kenya, which called any plans for an internet shutdown a “betrayal of the constitution,” many users experienced slow and unreliable internet service on the day of the protests. Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecom provider, attributed the connectivity issues to an outage in two undersea cables, cautioning customers about continued slow and intermittent service.
Digital rights advocates and civil society groups have voiced significant concerns about the potential for internet and media disruptions during such critical times. They emphasize the importance of maintaining open and reliable communication channels to ensure transparency and uphold democratic processes amidst civil unrest.
