Decades of repressive government left Kenyans with little taste for protest and public demonstrations. In recent years, greater space for civil society, coupled with recent adoption of things like social media, have encouraged small groups of activi

Decades of repressive government left Kenyans with little taste for protest and public demonstrations. In recent years, greater space for civil society, coupled with recent adoption of things like social media, have encouraged small groups of activists to take their grudges with Kenyan leadership to the streets.

With greater space for dissent, young people are coming together to criticise government and public servants.

With greater space for dissent, young people are coming together to criticise government and public servants.

Art is a pivotal part of the protests, with puppetry a large feature.

Art is a pivotal part of the protests, with puppetry a large feature.

Artists spent months making masks and papier mâché babies for one protest in February

Artists spent months making masks and papier mâché babies for one protest in February

A cultural centre in Nairobi has been the hub for much of this creativity

A cultural centre in Nairobi has been the hub for much of this creativity

Meanwhile puppeteers produced the babies out of a clandestine workshop for fear of police raids

Meanwhile puppeteers produced the babies out of a clandestine workshop for fear of police raids

Papier mâché babies were used to demonstrate Kenya's immaturity, it's citizens' "Diaper Mentality" according to organisers.

Papier mâché babies were used to demonstrate Kenya's immaturity, it's citizens' "Diaper Mentality" according to organisers.

Photographer-cum-activist Boniface Mwangi has been a driving force for protest groups, and very vocal on short-comings in government.

Photographer-cum-activist Boniface Mwangi has been a driving force for protest groups, and very vocal on short-comings in government.

Mwangi founded the cultural hub where protest equipment dreamed up and prepared.

Mwangi founded the cultural hub where protest equipment dreamed up and prepared.

A graffiti artist walks through a workshop the eve of a protest

A graffiti artist walks through a workshop the eve of a protest

Activists with papier mâché babies gather with custom printed t-shirts before a protest.

Activists with papier mâché babies gather with custom printed t-shirts before a protest.

Boniface Mwangi leads a group of protestors towards central Nairobi 

Boniface Mwangi leads a group of protestors towards central Nairobi 

Protestors gather outside Uhuru Park in Central Nairobi. Uhuru means "freedom" in Kiswahili.

Protestors gather outside Uhuru Park in Central Nairobi. Uhuru means "freedom" in Kiswahili.

Protestors were met by groups of anti-riot police.

Protestors were met by groups of anti-riot police.

The riot police left little time before dispersing protestors with tear-gas.

The riot police left little time before dispersing protestors with tear-gas.

Clouds of tear-gas block traffic at a major intersection in central Nairobi

Clouds of tear-gas block traffic at a major intersection in central Nairobi

Police piled up the papier mâché babies on the roadside before loading them into police vans.

Police piled up the papier mâché babies on the roadside before loading them into police vans.

The babies are loaded into a police van

The babies are loaded into a police van

After several hours of cat-and-mouse chases in the area, activist Boniface Mwangi is arrested by Kenyan paramilitaries. (Moments later, he would escape when the police van he was loaded in got stuck in traffic.)

After several hours of cat-and-mouse chases in the area, activist Boniface Mwangi is arrested by Kenyan paramilitaries. (Moments later, he would escape when the police van he was loaded in got stuck in traffic.)

An activist sits in the back of a police van after being arrested. Behind him, a paramilitary rides past on a horse.

An activist sits in the back of a police van after being arrested. Behind him, a paramilitary rides past on a horse.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Decades of repressive government left Kenyans with little taste for protest and public demonstrations. In recent years, greater space for civil society, coupled with recent adoption of things like social media, have encouraged small groups of activi
With greater space for dissent, young people are coming together to criticise government and public servants.
Art is a pivotal part of the protests, with puppetry a large feature.
Artists spent months making masks and papier mâché babies for one protest in February
A cultural centre in Nairobi has been the hub for much of this creativity
Meanwhile puppeteers produced the babies out of a clandestine workshop for fear of police raids
Papier mâché babies were used to demonstrate Kenya's immaturity, it's citizens' "Diaper Mentality" according to organisers.
Photographer-cum-activist Boniface Mwangi has been a driving force for protest groups, and very vocal on short-comings in government.
Mwangi founded the cultural hub where protest equipment dreamed up and prepared.
A graffiti artist walks through a workshop the eve of a protest
Activists with papier mâché babies gather with custom printed t-shirts before a protest.
Boniface Mwangi leads a group of protestors towards central Nairobi 
Protestors gather outside Uhuru Park in Central Nairobi. Uhuru means "freedom" in Kiswahili.
Protestors were met by groups of anti-riot police.
The riot police left little time before dispersing protestors with tear-gas.
Clouds of tear-gas block traffic at a major intersection in central Nairobi
Police piled up the papier mâché babies on the roadside before loading them into police vans.
The babies are loaded into a police van
After several hours of cat-and-mouse chases in the area, activist Boniface Mwangi is arrested by Kenyan paramilitaries. (Moments later, he would escape when the police van he was loaded in got stuck in traffic.)
An activist sits in the back of a police van after being arrested. Behind him, a paramilitary rides past on a horse.