NAIROBI, Kenya – Safaricom users across Kenya experienced significantly slow internet speeds on Tuesday evening, leading to widespread frustration and speculation.
The telecommunications giant attributed the slowdown to an outage affecting two of its undersea cables, but the timing of the disruption sparked a wave of public condemnation and accusations.
The internet outage coincided with a tumultuous day in the country, marked by violent clashes outside parliament during protests against the proposed finance bill.
Several individuals were tragically killed, intensifying public scrutiny and fueling rumors that the government was deliberately throttling internet access to control social media and curb the dissemination of information about the protests.
The backlash was swift and severe, with prominent social media influencers expressing their displeasure and cutting ties with Safaricom.
Dennis Ombachi, a well-known personality, took to his official X handle to voice his frustration, signaling the end of his partnership with the company.
Content creator Muchiri Mike also publicly announced his decision to sever ties with Safaricom, criticizing the company for its role in the internet disruption during such a critical time.
In response to the outcry, Safaricom released a statement explaining that the internet slowdown was due to technical issues with two of its undersea cables, which are vital for maintaining international connectivity.
The company assured users that efforts were underway to restore normal service as quickly as possible and apologized for the inconvenience caused.
The incident has dealt a significant blow to Safaricom’s public image, with many questioning the company’s transparency and reliability.
The decision by influencers like Ombachi and Muchiri Mike to terminate their partnerships is a testament to the growing dissatisfaction among users who rely on stable internet access for their daily activities and businesses.
