How Mukuru rights group uses murals to protest against bad governance

In Nairobi's Mukuru Kwa Njenga informal settlement, an unusual way for residents to express their displeasure towards bad governance is emerging.

Walls are getting painted, this time not by companies advertising their products but by bold youths painting messages of opposition to bad governance.

When The Eastleigh Voice visited Mukuru, members of Kongamano la Mapinduzi were at work – some were painting an image of Parliament with pigs while others worked on a mural on the increased killing of women in the country.

Kongamano La Mapinduzi member Paul Mark told The Eastleigh Voice that the murals are one of their ways of protesting against various ills in society.

"We are sending a message to the masses that they should be careful during the next election, especially when making their choices," said Paul.

He said the use of art to express their views on President William Ruto's administration is working well because it is non-violent, yet sends the messages they want to the authorities.

"We have let the walls do the talking. Kongamano La Mapinduzi is raising the consciousness of young people and Kenyans at large to rise against any form of injustice," said Paul.

A painting by members of the Kongamano La Mapinduzi in Mukuru urging the government to act on the increased killing of women in Kenya. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

Justice and freedoms

The group is a coalition of diverse individuals, organisations, initiatives and movements, generally identifying themselves as progressive within struggles for civil, political, social, cultural, economic and ecological justice and freedoms.

"We are curating and designing policy, legislative and advocacy instruments to transform the institutions that impact our communities, our lives and the country," said Paul.

In their activism call, the group believes that Kenya is still operating like a neo-colonial state.

To facilitate their art, the group members fundraise to buy paints and brushes for their activities.

Their disgust for the political class is visible in their art. According to them, the manifestos of most political parties in Kenya are similar, with very little to distinguish them.

A mural about Kenya’s Parliament drawn on a wall in Mukuru Kwa Njenga. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

They argue that many promise to foster economic growth, improve education, health, and infrastructure, create employment and fight corruption without any clear roadmap on how to achieve this. Without any clear ideological and policy agenda, the electorate is left without much of a choice.

"It is no wonder that people revert to vote based on the candidates’ personalities or their ethnicity, or the region they come from, or religion and clan they come from rather than unite to fight the main scourge which is imperialism and neo-colonialism by foreign and local agents," said Paul.

Paul explained that the unifying ideology of Kongamano La Mapinduzi is based on a socialist democratic platform whereby all citizens are legally entitled to full rights and freedoms. These rights include universal access to public goods and services such as food, water, sanitation, a clean environment, the right to work, housing, education, healthcare, workers’ compensation, and other services, including childcare and care for the elderly.

To them, the key issues that the government should focus on include land rights and justice, employment and decent livelihoods, growth of industries, and resolution of the national debt crisis. They say if these are addressed, corruption and the networks and conditions that sustain it will be dealt with.