New work package: Nonviolent Artivism Against Police Brutality in Kenya

The Creating Safer Space network is pleased to announce a new work package on the following topic:

Nonviolent Artivism Against Police Brutality in Kenya

The work package is led by Martha Okumu (Peace Tree Network) in collaboration with Elias Opongo (Hekima University College).

More information about the work package is available on our website: https://creating-safer-space.com/nonviolent-artivism-against-police-brutality-in-kenya/

A mural of police brutality in Kibra’s Kamukunji grounds by Detail Seve on June 4, 2020. Image: MERCY MUMO

Nonviolent Artivism Against Police Brutality in Kenya

This research explores youth and civil society nonviolent artivism against police brutality in two Kenyan locations: Nairobi and Kisumu. “Nonviolent artivism” here includes the use of wall paintings and pictures (murals, graffiti, and visual art), spoken word, poetry and music, when they are used as unarmed civilian protection strategies.

Over the years, there have been advocacy initiatives and public demonstrations against police brutality. The demonstrations have often been met with brutal force from the police, sometimes leading to deaths of civilians. For example, in 2020 there were 109 demonstrations and protests on diverse social issues of concern. The demonstrations were in compliance with the law of the constitution which gives citizens the right to self-expression and peaceful public demonstrations. Despite this, there were 9 deaths that were directly attributed to excess use of force by the police and 113 unlawful arrests.

Many civil rights groups have realized that direct physical demonstrations against the police often have a negative impact and bear a high risk of police brutality. As an alternative, artivism was adapted as a strategy for unarmed civilian protection against brutality. This research takes a special interest in studying artivistic strategies applied by both the youth and civil society organizations and exploring the extent to which these strategies have succeeded in reducing incidences of police brutality.

Research team:

  • Martha Okumu, Peace Tree Network (principal investigator)
  • Elias Opongo, Hekima University College
A mural of police brutality in Kibra’s Kamukunji grounds by Detail Seve on June 4, 2020. Image: MERCY MUMO