{
  "id": 2489255,
  "title": "Safaricom responds after users report nationwide network connectivity issues",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/safaricom-responds-after-users-report-nationwide-network-connectivity",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-22T03:34:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/business/safaricom-responds-after-users-report-nationwide-network-connectivity-issues"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Safaricom, Kenya's largest mobile operator, has responded to widespread network connectivity complaints across the country. The issue reportedly began around 11:00 am on Friday, August 21, 2026, affecting both Safaricom and Airtel services. Some users claimed the disruptions were nationwide, while others experienced issues such as no signal, connection problems, and difficulty making calls or accessing mobile data. Safaricom asked affected users to provide details about the specific issue and directed them to report problems via SMS to 5555. Independent outage tracking data showed a spike in Airtel user reports around 10:00 am, with complaints mainly in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, and Thika. However, Airtel had not confirmed a nationwide outage. This latest issue follows a separate signal disruption reported by Airtel customers in the past, which also started around 11:00 am. The complaints bring back memories of previous telecommunications disruptions, including a major disruption in May 2024 caused by damaged submarine cables affecting mobile data, home internet, and business connectivity across Kenya and East Africa.",
  "summary": "Safaricom has responded to customer complaints after users across Kenya reported widespread network connectivity problems, with some claiming the disruptions affected both Safaricom and Airtel services from around 11:00 am on Friday, August 21, 2026. The complaints gained traction on X after user @DominicMatata9 suggested the issue could point to a nationwide infrastructure problem affecting […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Safaricom addresses nationwide network connectivity issues on August 21, 2026",
    "Users report no signal, connection problems, and difficulty making calls or accessing mobile data",
    "Airtel also experiences outage, with complaints mainly in major cities"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The nationwide network connectivity issues affecting Safaricom and Airtel users revive concerns about the reliability of Kenya's telecommunications infrastructure, particularly after a similar major disruption in May 2024.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}