Palaver - 03/09/2010

Palaver

Even rumours need to be anchored on reality, but not so with fatal calls from strange numbers. In Machakos the rumour was that at least 27 people died after receiving calls from 'unknown' numbers flashed red. But no one could tell who the dead were, and there were no reports from their friends and relatives. And no one could claim to have seen the bodies. In Migori six people were said to have died, but no one had seen the bodies and no police station or hospital confirmed the deaths. The losers in the out of season hoax have been mobile telephony service providers. Palaver now understands the potential commercial cost of rumours.