Fuelling the Flames: Rumour and Politics in Kibera

Abstract

Kenya's post-election crisis was partly fuelled by the seemingly innocuous, but insidious, power of rumour. In the 2007 election campaign, rumours fostering suspicion and mistrust were widely disseminated, and in the aftermath of the contested poll rumour frequently gave credence to claims that advanced specific political agendas. The use of mobile phone Short Message Service (SMS) texts in the circulation of rumours gave them an instantaneous spread, contributing to increased anxiety, sometimes leading to panic, and, on occasion, motivating people to action. This article examines the impact of rumour and its relation to politics within Kibera, a densely populated informal settlement in Nairobi's Langata constituency. Langata is the political base of Raila Odinga, presidential candidate and leader of the opposition ODM (Orange Democratic Movement). Between October 2007 and February 2008, rumour played a significant role in shaping public perceptions of the emerging political crisis in Kibera. This narrative suggests the ways in which rumour served to escalate tensions, while sometimes also serving political purposes.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to many informants within Kibera; James and his family for their hospitality; and George Juma Ondeng, Gregory Deacon, Elizabeth Cooper, Sarah Rubin, David Anderson, David Pratten and Daniel Branch for their advice. Fieldwork was funded by the British Institute in Eastern Africa, the Godfrey Leinhardt Memorial Fund, and the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford.

Notes

1. Muchuma, ‘Govt Takes Measures’.

2. Informal discussion with Kibera resident, 19 January 2008.

3. International Crisis Group, ‘Kenya in Crisis’.

4. Mugisha and De Temmerman, ‘Rumours Fuel Anti-Ugandan Feelings’; Ojanji and Ombati, ‘ODM- Govt Importing Troops’; Sanya and Muhumuza, ‘Museveni Denies Rigging’.

5. Ojanji and Ombati, ‘ODM- Govt Importing Troops’; Oywa, ‘Country on Fire’.

6. Allport and Lepkin, ‘Wartime Rumours’; Allport and Postman, The Psychology of Rumor; Knapp, A Psychology of Rumor.

7. Gluckman, ‘Papers’; Shibutani, Improvised News.

8. Das, ‘Specificities’; Guha, Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency; Donovan, ‘How Idle is Idle Talk?’; Kirsch, ‘Rumour and Other Narratives’; Knopf, Rumors, Race, and Riots; Subramaniam, ‘Culture of Suspicion’.

9. Rafael, ‘The Cell Phone’; also, Ellis, ‘Rumour and Power’.

10. Das, ‘Specificities’; Knopf, Rumors, Race, and Riots; Perice, ‘Rumors and Politics in Haiti’.

11. Haugerud, Culture of Politics.

12. Communications Commission of Kenya, ‘General Telecommunications Indicators’.

13. Wa-Mungai, ‘Tusker Project’.

14. Bangré, ‘Kenya: SMS Text Messages the New Guns of War?’

15. Nadzri, ‘Adding Fuel’.

16. Haugerud, Culture of Politics, pp.15–55.

17. Informal discussion with Kibera resident, 16 December 2007.

18. Das, ‘Specificities’, 119.

19. http://www.steadman-group.com/group_news.php

20. Informal discussion with James, 9 November 2007.

21. Please note that ‘Watu’ is not the actual name of this ward within Kibera. I have chosen to change the name to protect the identity of informants and aspirants.

22. Please note the name Ochieng is a pseudonym.

23. Interview with Kibera resident, 13 December 2007.

24. Perice, ‘Rumors and Politics in Haiti’, 6.

25. Similar incidents were reported in other areas as well.

26. Das, ‘Specificities’, 119

27. Shibutani, Improvised News.

28. Perice, ‘Rumors and Politics in Haiti’, 2.

29. New Vision Staff, ‘Rumours Fuel Mayhem’.

30. International Crisis Group, ‘Kenya in Crisis’.

31. Nation Team, ‘Waruinge Held’; Ogutu, ‘Former Mungiki Sect Leader’.

32. Ogutu, ‘Former Mungiki Sect Leader’

33. Alert! Mungiki are hitting back and slaughtering our people [Luo]. Uhuru [Minister for Local Government] and Chris Kirubi [a Kenyan businessman and billionaire] have been given the task to bankroll Mungiki this week. Gitahi, the Daily Nation Newspaper CEO, has offered to ferry guns in Daily Nation vans. The first batch of guns are destined for Elburgon, Molo, Eldoret, Bungoma, Kakamega, the coast, and Kisumu will be leaving tonight for these destinations. Sambaza [Send] to scuttle [to expose or break up the plot].

34. Phone conversation with Martin, 29 January 2008.

35. Phone conversation with James, 29 January 2008.

36. Informal discussion with Kibera resident, 30 January 2008.

37. Interview with Kibera resident, 2 February 2008. Forced male circumcision was reported by IRINews, ‘Rape on the Rise in Post-Election Violence’, 2 January 2008.

38. Informal discussion with Kibera resident, 22 February 2008.