Kenya: Using SMS to spread rumours

What An African Woman Thinks writes about negative uses of SMS in Kenya: “Regarding the escalating violence in Kenya, the ICRC spokesman in the country, one Bernard Barret is quoted as saying that rumours are being spread by mobile phone text messages predicting imminent attacks by one group or another and that this is heightening tensions.”

Sadly I can validate that this was the case even in the diaspora. Just before the election there was a text message circulated in the Kikuyu community declaring that an uncircumcised boy (they used the Kikuyu term kahee) can never be the next president of Kenya.

One Response to “Kenya: Using SMS to spread rumours”

The sad thing about hate is that it will always be transmitted through whatever communication channels are available to it. On the bright side the same thing can be said about love, peace and togetherness.

What to spread at such a time as this is entirely our choice.

[via Global Voices Online]