Showing posts with label outages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outages. Show all posts


Safaricom Temporarily Halts M-Pesa Services: Mixed Reactions Emerge as Kenyan Users React

  • Safaricom PLC announced a temporary closure of all M-Pesa services on Monday, April 7, 2025
  • The telco said the maintenance is aimed at enhancing the mobile money wallet services for customers
  • However, the announcement sparked debate among Kenyans, with others questioning the frequent maintenance.

diwida>news >.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate and health reporting, which offers deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Safaricom PLC has completed its planned M-Pesa system maintenance on Monday, April 7.

The top telecom company and mobile banking service disclosed in a customer advisory on Saturday, April 5, that the system would be temporarily shut down.

What Safaricom services experienced issues?

Safaricom stated that ongoing maintenance is intended to improve M-Pesa services for customers, offering limitless opportunities.

To uphold our commitment to providing a reliable, safe, secure, and superior customer experience, we will perform planned system maintenance on the evening of Monday, April 7, 2025, between 1:00 AM and 1:30 AM.
Safaricom stated that during the 30-minute maintenance window, M-PESA services will be accessible sporadically.

The telecommunications company stated that all other Safaricom services, such as voice calls, data usage, and text messaging, will continue without disruption.

It assured customers of the least inconvenience during the maintenance period and apologised for any resulting challenges.

What Kenyans said about M-Pesa maintenance

This sparked debate among Kenyans, with some expressing their frustrations online as follows:

@NickNyash01 argued:

"Maintenance frequency imezidi sasa, ama ni bob zetu mnasongesha."

@SafaricomPLC replied:

Hi Nick, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. It’s to help us serve you better.

@HamiltonJa34376 asked:

What happens with M-Pesa accounts when they encounter problems?

@NHermanitoh23 said:

Hope mtasort resolves the matter with global compensation.

@TechniquesPowe1 wondered:

When did the deduction for both the sender and recipient begin with M-Pesa transactions? Please provide guidance.

@hellenfestus1 lamented:

I transferred funds to an incorrect number, and after two weeks, I haven't received any confirmation of recovery.

@Robahmyish asked:

"Will you compensate?"

@muthamosseh argued:

Kuzungumza na michezo iliyotumiwa katiya mara tano.

Kenyan citizens voice concerns over data bundle pricing

@DubaKanu17403 said:

I hope your problems with data bundles get resolved soon.

@johnpaulomondi_ requested:

Why doesn't Safaricom conduct maintenance on the network that keeps experiencing issues?

This has happened before where Kenyans have voiced their concerns over the telecom's network and data bundle offerings.

In the past M-Pesa system maintenance on March 24, 2025, most people expressed worries about issues with their data bundle services.

Thomas Mnang'at claimed:

Leo kulingana asubuhi, tatizo linaendelea hasiwa na maudhui yenye umri wa masaa tatu zinazohusika. Kama vile anamtaka kuacha pesa nyinginezo,

Millie Jeps Rutto requested:

"Kuna shida ya network huku kwetu, mnaeza tuletea booster please."

Ceci Solai wondered:

"Alafu network siku izi inatutesa sana kama sasa Niko na data nahaziendi through why?"

Others complained about limited or no access to some M-Pesa services, including Fuliza and M-Shwari loans.

They contended that as long-term customers, their SIM cards had never been eligible for upgrades or increases in loan limits.



Twitter GOES DARK: Thousands Report Issues as X Newsfeed Fails

Twitter has encountered downtime as thousands of users report problems with their newsfeeds on the social media application.

Reports of issues with the app surged dramatically today afternoon, as indicated by the Downdetector monitoring site.

During the height of the problem around 3 pm, over 1,900 individuals reached out to the service within the previous day, all experiencing difficulties with the application.

The numbers subsequently dropped but have since started increasing once more, reaching approximately 1,700 reports recorded as of shortly past 4 pm in the last 24 hours.

Most recently, users reported having received an error message several times, which said: 'Cannot retrieve posts at this time. Please try again later.'

One commenter on the Downdetector website said: 'Thank you Elon, for being so competent.'

Most problems, or 74 per cent of them, were reported on the app as opposed to the website, which accounted for 25 per cent of complaints.

Only 1 per cent of reports were about the comments.

Read more


Cuba Faces Massive Blackout as Substation Failure Leaves Millions in the Dark

Havana (AP) — millions of individuals across Cuba was left without electricity on Saturday following an outage in the country’s electrical network that plunged the region into darkness the preceding evening.

The huge power outage is the fourth within the past six months as a severe economic crisis Plaguing the Caribbean nation, the Ministry of Energy and Mines stated on social media that the recent power cut was due to a malfunction at a substation in the outskirts of Havana, the capital city.

The internet and phone services became sporadic sometime on Saturday evening following a power outage that occurred around 8 p.m. local time on Friday.

The Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, stated on his X account that officials are "making significant efforts to reinstate stability" within the electrical grid.

Lázaro Guerra, who leads the electricity division at the ministry, stated on nationwide TV that power generation had commenced to ensure essential services like hospitals were supported.

A declaration issued by the Cuban Electrical Union on Saturday outlined their plan to establish "mini-grids" which would interconnect with one another to progressively reinstate power supply throughout the nation. Some of these mini-grids have already begun functioning in the regions of Guantánamo, Santiago, Las Tunas, and Pinar del Río.

The provincial energy company in Sancti Spíritos announced via their Telegram channel that over 200,000 clients in the region regained power due to these microgrids.

A lot of Cuban households rely on electrical appliances for cooking their dishes. Such an outage might lead to frozen items defrosting inside fridges and potentially spoiling because of the country’s warm weather conditions.

"When I was just about to begin cooking and preparing some spaghetti, the electricity suddenly cut off," said Cecilia Duquense, a 79-year-old homemaker from the working-class district of Central Havana, on Saturday. "Now what?" she added.

In Havana, individuals went out to shop for groceries on Saturday. Stores were operational, but several relied on batteries or miniature household generators due to power issues.

"We are extremely concerned that the food in the refrigerator might spoil" if the power outage continues for much longer, stated Frank García, a 26-year-old marking operator from Havana.

The gas stations remained operational, yet the tunnel beneath Havana Bay, which links the city with its outer areas, was pitch black.

Cuba suffered similar blackouts in October In November and December. The most recent one occurred at the beginning of 2025 when authorities decided to suspend classes and work activities for two days in mid-February because of an acute shortage of electricity generation, which surpassed 50% nationwide.

Specialists indicate that the electrical outages are due to fuel scarcities at power stations and outdated infrastructure. Many of these facilities have been functioning for over three decades.

The blackouts are occurring alongside a serious economic crisis in Cuba, which experts attribute to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, government policies that led to increased inflation, and most significantly, the intensification of US sanctions.

The Associated Press



Kenya Power Alerts: Scheduled Outages Set for Sunday, March 16 in These Areas

  • The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has listed regions expecting electricity disruptions on Sunday, March 16.
  • The lighting firm stated that planned maintenance will impact sections of Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties.
  • Certain regions will face power outages lasting eight hours, whereas some will have them for just one hour.

Faith Chandianya, a journalist with .co.ke, comes with more than three years of expertise in reporting on politics and current events within Kenya.

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has disclosed regions slated for planned electricity disruptions on Sunday, March 16.

The firm stated that the disruptions are because of planned upkeep intended to enhance service for their clients.

In which counties will power outages occur?

On Saturday, March 15, Kenya Power issued a statement indicating that two counties would experience planned maintenance outages. These counties are as follows:

Uasin Gishu county

Location: Simba Cement, Kamoret (9 AM-5 PM)

The locations slated to be impacted in the specified regions encompass Kampi Kuku, Jua Cali Market, Cemtec (Simba Cement) plant, and neighboring clients.

The specified regions will face electricity outages lasting around eight hours.

Trans Nzoia county

Region: Kwanza, Kiminini (9 AM-10 PM)

Kimanini, Kwanza, Endebes, Cherengany constituencies along with other nearby customers.

What does Kenya Power consistently uphold?

Typically, during planned maintenance, Kenya Power employees tend to swap out defective transformers, set up new power lines, and enhance deteriorated transmission infrastructure.

These tasks frequently involve deactivating electricity supply lines at substations or specific locations to guarantee the safety of consumers.

In certain situations, the live team has the capability to sustain power lines and infrastructure without interrupting the electricity supply.

As Kenya Power embraces new technologies such as automation, the requirement for regular upkeep has decreased.

Other significant aspects of maintaining power include:

  • Quality of power supply and load handling
  • Decreased technical losses within distribution networks
  • Client support and performance indicators


Cubans Struggle as New Power Outage Hits Nation

Many Cubans remained without electricity for a consecutive day on Saturday. However, similar to the previous significant blackouts over the last six months, people are adapting--albeit with a sense of inevitability.

The recent power outage started late Friday at a substation close to Havana before expanding across the country, impacting most of the financially strained island's 9.7 million inhabitants.

On Saturday, officials stated they were endeavoring to reinstate electricity.

Meanwhile, Cubans were making the most of their situation.

Jorge Suarez, a 47-year-old attorney, visited a private bar in Havana for a drink. The establishment remained operational with the help of a compact generator.

He said to AFP, 'One gets accustomed to these conditions.' It’s similar to how animals living in deserts must adapt to survive without water.

All we can do now is adapt and await intervention from the government, as resolving this issue falls within their jurisdiction.

Adela Alba, who is 37 years old, runs the place, which functions both as an eatery and a grocery store.

"It’s extremely challenging to work under these conditions,” she remarked. “Electricity is crucial for every task.”

Her modest generator assists in keeping at least some basic services running since they still need to cover rent and taxes amid these circumstances, she explained.

Cubans have been enduring a severe economic downturn characterized by pervasive scarcity of food, fuel, and medicines. The country’s outdated and frequently malfunctioning power infrastructure has exacerbated these difficulties.

Ariel Mas Castellanos, an official from the electric company in Havana, stated to local media that the faulty equipment "has been operational for several years and is now showing signs of wear and tear."

On Saturday, officials stated that parallel circuits were assisting in supplying electricity to critical areas such as hospitals, along with certain neighborhoods.

"Certain provinces now feature parallel circuits, and generator units are beginning to sync with the national grid," stated Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on X.

Silvia Torres, a 64-year-old inhabitant of the Las Tunas province located in eastern Cuba, resides in an area that receives benefits from the alternative electrical systems.

"Praise be to God, we rose to illumination... a gift since I am aware that numerous regions remain without light," she shared with AFP via telephone.

On Friday night, an outage left the streets of Havana shrouded in darkness, causing residents to rely on their phones and flashlights for navigation.

Many parts of Cuba's main city experience daily electricity shortages lasting four to five hours, with disruptions extending up to 20 hours or longer in rural areas.

In February, officials halted all operations on the island for two days to prevent a large-scale power outage.

In the last quarter of 2024, two service disruptions occurred, lasting multiple days each, with one happening coincidently during a hurricane.

"Giving us strength, our nation seems to be deteriorating further," remarked 82-year-old Havana resident Xiomara Castellanos on Saturday. She expressed concern that the food in her fridge could go bad.

Nearly all of the nation's eight thermal power plants, which were mostly built in the 1980s or 1990s, face frequent breakdowns.

Mobile Turkish energy vessels along with several generators support the country’s power grid, yet the US embargo imposed from 1962 onward complicates fuel imports.

The administration is hurriedly working towards establishing at least 55 solar parks within this year -- a move they claim will meet approximately 12 percent of the country’s energy requirements.