Kenya: Art transforms lives in Nairobi slum

In Nairobi’s Mukuru settlement, one of the city’s largest informal communities, a local group known as Wajukuu Arts Collective is turning art into a tool for resilience and social change, as reported by Africa News via AP on 3rd November.

Founded in 2003 amid a wave of gang violence and police brutality, the group was launched by more than 40 teenage boys seeking alternatives.

“Our community has many stories of women abandoned by their husbands, struggling to make ends meet,” says co-founder Lazarus Tumbuti, whose art reflects the hardships of daily life. What began as a small gathering of hopeful youth soon became a safe space where young men could nurture ambition and support one another.

More than 20 years later, only four of the original founders remain—some have moved on, while others lost their lives to police violence—but their legacy continues through eight dedicated artists committed to changing Mukuru’s narrative.

For members of Wajukuu, art is more than expression; it is therapy and protest. Co-founder Shabu Mwangi believes creativity helps residents confront trauma in a community where poverty often forces families to overlook emotional wellbeing.

“Through art, I believe it serves as a means to process their inner turmoil,” Mwangi states.

His works explore identity, inequality, and the lingering impacts of colonialism, challenging the systems that strip away human dignity. Meanwhile, artist Ngugi Waweru repurposes discarded knives and iron sheets—symbols of violence—into sculptures that speak of transformation and resilience.

From its humble beginnings, Wajukuu has grown into a vibrant community hub. The group now trains around 30 young people in practical skills such as photography, videography, and web design. Its Kids’ Club—a creative program where children draw and tell stories to express their emotions—reaches over 150 children each year.

These initiatives have turned Wajukuu into more than an art collective. It is now a center for education, empowerment, and healing in a settlement where opportunity is scarce. What started as a safe haven for teenagers avoiding gang recruitment has become a symbol of hope, proving that even in one of Africa’s toughest neighborhoods, paintbrushes and imagination can become tools of resistance and renewal.

Africa News via AP, Maghrebi.org