This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
Johnstone Ashene, a long-time Nation reader, was shocked to be blocked from accessing the Nation website and asked if he's a robot. The incident occurred on May 1, 2020, when he tried to access the website online.
Mr. Ashene, who has been reading the Nation since 1982, was surprised to be asked if he's a robot. He explained that he has been a loyal reader of the Nation and has even benefited from the newspaper's scholarship program in the past.
"I've been reading the Nation since 1982. When the 8-4-4 system of education began, you offered a scholarship to my son for four years to learn at Alliance High School. He now teaches at a public university in Kenya," he said.
Mr. Ashene's experience is not unique. Other readers, including Betty Muthoni Gachire, a senior lecturer at the Kenya School of Government, have also been blocked from accessing the Nation website and asked if they're robots.
However, the Nation's IT Director, Gabriel Chege, explained that the blocking is a standard security feature designed to prevent malicious activity on the website. He suggested that readers who are blocked should check their browser settings to ensure that there are no malware or suspicious activity that may be triggering the security feature.
Mr. Chege also explained that the Nation website asks readers if they're robots to prevent spamming and other malicious activity. He assured readers that they can always get help from the Nation's IT department if they encounter any issues.
