Advertising for slum screenings in Kibera

As one walks around any of the slum areas in Nairobi during the day, one can notice the infectious smiles of children as they play on the road, can hear the vivacious conversations between shop owners and customers as daily transactions are being made, and can feel the hospitality of a place that, though entrenched in poverty, still finds a way to appreciate the warmth of the Nairobi sun.

However, coupled with this community narrative is a recent past of violence, loss, and pain brought on by the 2007-2008 post-election violence that saw this beautiful country of Kenya turn into tragic chaos. Being only three years ago, PEV still has its effects lingering amongst our poorest communities. Have we truly healed from the scars of PEV? Have we reflected and forgiven? In what constructive ways are we working towards healing our nation?

These are the questions we at Picha Mtaani are trying to pose and answer through a peace-building campaign to hold 1000 screenings of the awakening film on the post election violence “Heal the Nation” (HTN). An offspring of Picha Mtaani, an exhibition set of images taken during Kenya’s 2007/2008 post-election violence that toured throughout Kenya and saw massive success and impact in 2009, these film screenings seek to engage specifically youth who are unemployed or with few economic opportunities, who tend to be the source of cheap labor for political violence.

Youths watching 'Heal the Nation' in a video den in Kibera

We are providing a grassroots platform for youths, men, and women to reflect on the atrocities of the PEV and to discuss ways in which to avoid such events again in the next election. Hitting all the divisions in Nairobi – Langata, Kamkunji, Westlands, Dagoretti, Makadara, Embakasi, Kasarani, and Starehe – the screenings are occurring throughout the week, every week until the end of April.  Each begins with the movie “Heal the Nation” and is followed by a 30-minute discussion where participants are able to voice their views, grievances, and reflections on the PEV and work toward ways of peace.

The screenings have received a warm welcome, and participants are encouraging people all over Kenya to embrace peace especially during this election year. There has been high cooperation between community leaders, video den operators, and our project volunteers.  Topics such as tribalism, bad political leadership, and unemployment consistently come up at these discussions. As on-the-ground participatory comments and SMS feedback is an integral part of the project, people have responded with such comments as:

• “Actually the PEV was emotional as in the film. We need 2 4give, forget n heel as a Nation as we approach the next general election. Ken 4rm Kayole.”
• “As a youth I have learnt alot I should respect life.”
  • “Whatever you plant you shall reap if we plant peace we will harvest peace”

With audience members representing men and women from different political, ethnic, tribal, traditional, cultural and religious backgrounds, we are confident in the impact these screenings can have in solidifying peace as one of the primary goals for next year’s elections.

Pawa254 serves as the headquarters for the trainings, meetings, and material pick-up for this project. For more information on Picha Mtaani and the slum screenings, visit http://pichamtaani.org/about/the-project/.

Nairobi, Kenya – 25 October 2011

An enthusiastic and attentive crowd of 1000 Kenyans participated in the official launch of the Heal the Nation documentary on Sunday at City Hall Wall.

The independent film chronicles Picha Mtaani, a street photography exhibition of the 2007-2008 post-election violence that reached over 500,000 Kenyans over the past three years.  Through eyewitness accounts and personal stories, victims and perpetrators meet together as they narrate their stories on Kenya’s worst political and tribal conflict that left over 1,500 dead and nearly 500,000 people internally displaced.

At Sunday’s public event, the crowd joined prominent speakers and diverse performers in reflecting upon the post-election violence and calling for nationwide healing, unity, and peace.  The film questions, what will happen if we don’t reconcile before 2012 elections?

“Go out there and preach peace,” declared Laban Otuma, a victim of the post-election violence and the event’s special guest from Nakuru.

Businessman Aly-Khan Satchu praised Heal the Nation and highlighted everyone’s role in creating a better political and economic system: “We are not passengers; we are the stakeholders.”

Swiss Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud echoed the call for personal responsibility: “Next time someone gives you money and a panga, take the money; it’s probably yours.  Give him back the panga.  Ask him to go fight.”

The public film screening followed a series of programs throughout the day.  Hundreds of passersby viewed the original traveling photography exhibition and signed pledges committing themselves to peace around the 2012 elections.  At dusk, a candlelight vigil marked the 1,133 victims killed in the post-election violence.  Creative artist performances featured young spoken word poets, actors, and musicians, including award-winning hip hop artist Juliani.

To bring the story to millions more, film creator Mtaani Initiative plans for broad nationwide film distribution.  At the event, the public took home 1000 copies on DVD, pledging to share, copy, and distribute the film to others.

The Heal the Nation film is just one initiative of the organization, which implements innovative projects to involve ordinary citizens and visual artists in a process of healing, reconciliation, and civic engagement.

I will engage in conversation with scholars, students and the American public about the subject of the exhibition. The Center for African Studies also plans to have two distinguished speakers at the launching of the exhibition who will make presentation on the theme of “violence and healing.” One is Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine. His recently released childhood memoir Dreams in Times of War on memory in the context of a history of violence is particularly pertinent to the theme of this exhibition. The other speaker is Gabriele Schwab, Chancellor’s Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California at Irvine. A power-house in cultural theory, Professor Scwhab is currently completing Haunting Legacies her latest book on trauma and healing.

During the build-up to 2007 elections many Kenyan politicians travelled to different corners of the World to seek endorsements from political leaders and financial support from international sources and Kenyans in the diaspora for the General Elections held on 27 December 2010. Kenyans in diaspora participated actively in the processes to the General Elections, from shaping public opinion to financial contributions and other material support to the various political parties and candidates. According to a report by the Coalition for Accountable Political Financing, approximately $65 million was used in a period of nine (9) months preceding the General Elections by political parties and candidates. These pictures will also serve as a reminder to Kenyans in the Diaspora to be more concerned about the destination of every dollar they contribute to the election process. The World is watching how well Kenya meets this Agenda. This photographic demonstration of how devastated Kenya and Kenyans were in the post-election period forms a baseline on which to appraise Kenya’s progress towards national
healing, reconciliation and cohesion.

Kenyans in Diaspora are concentrated in seven (7) key states. We wish to explore the possibilities of doing more exhibitions in Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and engage with Kenyans in all these states, across the U.S which have high population of Kenyan professionals and students: It is to these cities that politicians will turn in the run up to the 2012 Elections as well.

Thank You
Boniface Mwangi

Written by DENNIS ODUNGA

The photographs of scenes of the 2008 post-election violence, displayed for public viewing, had been displayed by Picha Mtaani Organisation.

Then a councillor arrived at the scene and asked the residents to reject the photographs, arguing that they brought back bad memories of the chaos.

Cllr Isaiah Onyango claimed that the photographs were interfering with the current voter registration. But police stepped in and calmed the rowdy youths who had caused tension in the area and threatened to beat up the exhibition director.

The head of the Kisumu police, Mr John Mwinzi, asked the residents not to allow themselves to be incited by local politicians.

He asked volunteers of Picha Mtaani, an organisation which is funded by the UN Development Programme and USAid, to keep the pictures until calm was restored.

“It is essential to prepare the residents for what they are about to see because most of these pictures contain emotional scenes,” he said.

Picha Mtaani project director Boniface Mwangi said the photographs were aimed at showing the public the effects of tribal clashes.

The organisation, he said, had held exhibitions in four other towns in Kenya, and that it was aiming at urging the people to embrace peace and reconciliation.

“Residents of other towns in the country had received the photographs well and cooperated in our counselling,” he pointed out.

“We were planning to exhibit the photographs in Kisumu for the next three days, and since we have not been received well, we will proceed to Mombasa.”

The rather easy start was interrupted by a rowdy gang of young men who accosted the Picha Mtaani staff and volunteers, and went ahead to dismantle and destroy the photos from the exhibition set.

The group claimed that the pictures were portraying Kenya’s prime minister, who is also the political leader of the region in bad light. The group went ahead to confiscate numerous items and equipment belonging to Picha Mtaani. The police later responded to maintain order and apprehend the gang.

A local authority councilor by the name Isaiah Onyango is believed to be behind the heinous and barbaric acts vandalism and intimidation. In the wake of the disruption, Picha Mtaani has lost photographs and equipment of unknown value; the team has had to cancel and close the exhibition tour of Kisumu.