Boniface Mwangi

Mwangi was born in Taveta, Kenya, on the border with Tanzania. His mother was a businesswoman who traded across the border. Mwangi started living with his grandparents in Nyeri, Central Kenya, when he was six.

He later moved in with his mother in Nairobi's low-income suburb of Ngara, then a high-rise in Majengo, Githurai 45, before finally settling in Pangani. Mwangi dropped in and out of school during this period and helped his mother vend books.{{Cite web |url=http://pichamtaani.org/about/the-team/ |title=The Team | Picha Mtaani |access-date=2012-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904145108/http://pichamtaani.org/about/the-team/ |archive-date=2012-09-04 |url-status=dead }}

When his mother died in 2000, Mwangi, then 17, decided he had to change if he was to survive. He joined a Bible school with the intention of becoming a pastor, and secured a diploma in biblical studies. Whilst at school he became interested in photography. He was influenced by the Kenyan photographer Mohamed Amin.

Despite not having a high school education, Mwangi managed to gain a place at a private journalism school. To fund his studies he had to continue selling books on the street, but soon began to gain experience as a photojournalist. He published photographs in the national newspaper The Standard, and in 2005 won his first photography prizes. Within three years he received international recognition as one of Africa's most promising photographers.{{Cite web|title=Boniface joins movement working for dignity|url=https://dailyactive.info/2018/11/20/boniface-joins-movement-working-for-dignity/|last=opera|date=2018-11-20|website=Daily Active|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25}} He was awarded the 2008 and 2010 CNN Africa Photojournalist of the Year Award.{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - CNN African Journalist of the Year Competition|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/africanawards/finalists_2010.html|website=www.cnn.com|access-date=2020-05-25}}

However, he put his photography career on hold, to work on Kenyan social justice.

Mwangi quit journalism after witnessing and documenting post-election violence in Kenya in 2007 as a newspaper photographer. He experienced posttraumatic stress and depression (and he was also directly affected having to move temporarily after people of his community were being threatened). More importantly, he was frustrated he had to cover the same politicians that had incited the violence but remained unpunished.

His first initiative was the project Picha Mtaani, Swahili for "photos in the street", showing photographs of the violence in 2007 after the national elections, between the different tribes. This traveling street exhibition was shown around the country for people to discuss reconciliation and promote national healing. Over 600,000 people saw the exhibition.{{Cite web|title=Youth Of The Week: Boniface Mwangi – Rise Networks|url=https://risenetworks.org/yotw/youth-of-the-month-boniface-mwangi/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727022807/https://risenetworks.org/yotw/youth-of-the-month-boniface-mwangi/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Boniface Mwangi-Through the Lens; Addressing Africa's Challenges|url=https://www.konnectafrica.net/boniface-mwangi/|last=Okafor|first=Lovelyn|date=2016-03-02|website=Konnect Africa|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-25}} This was later complemented by the documentary Heal the Nation, which was shown mostly in slum areas.

Following these initiatives Mwangi started to develop a stronger human rights stance in his work on fighting (political and corporate) impunity, speaking out against bad and corrupt political leadership, and promoting a message of peace for the elections planned for 2013 with initiatives called MaVulture and Team Courage. Team Courage is a Nairobi-based lobby that strives to enable a patriotic citizens' movement to take bold and effective actions in building a new Kenya.

His latest initiative is Pawa 254 which was launched in 2011,{{cite web |last1=Kamau |first1=Mwangi |title=A New Chapter for PAWA 254 – Talanta Global |url=https://talanta.global/2020/06/06/a-new-chapter-for-pawa-254/ |accessdate=11 September 2020}} a hub and space for artists and activists to work together towards social change and advancing Human rights in Kenya.

He formed Ukweli Party and was a candidate for the Starehe Constituency member of Parliament seat in the 2017 Kenyan general election.{{Cite web|title=Boniface Mwangi launches party - VIDEO|url=https://mobile.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Boniface-Mwangi-political-party/3126390-3856814-r4argg/index.html|last=App|first=Daily Nation|website=mobile.nation.co.ke|language=en|access-date=2020-05-25}}

Mwangi was arrested by police in May 2019 for allegedly organizing a revolution in Kenya.{{cite news |last1=Wako |first1=Amina |last2=Kiage |first2=Nyaboga |title=Kenya: Update - Boniface Mwangi Arrested, Charged With Plotting 'Revolution' |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201905070021.html |website=AllAfrica |date=7 May 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Njeru |first1=Brian Ukaya and Betty |title=Activist Boniface Mwangi arrested |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nairobi/article/2001324230/activist-boniface-mwangi-arrested |website=The Standard (Kenya)|date=6 May 2019 |language=en}}

In October 2016, Mwangi linked William Ruto to the assassination of a murdered Jubilee government critic Jacob Juma{{cite news |last1=Mathenge |first1=Oliver |title=Jacob Juma made enemies online including Ruto |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016-05-06-jacob-juma-made-enemies-online-including-ruto/ |work=The Star (Kenya) |date=6 May 2016 |language=en-KE}}{{cite news |last1=Murimi |first1=Maureen |title=Activist Mwangi fires at DP Ruto over 'defamatory' tweet |url=https://citizentv.co.ke/news/activist-mwangi-fires-at-dp-ruto-over-defamatory-tweet-144162/ |work=Citizentv.co.ke |date=5 October 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Maina |first1=Carol |title=Ruto sues Boniface Mwangi for linking him to Jacob Juma death |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016-10-07-ruto-sues-boniface-mwangi-for-linking-him-to-jacob-juma-death/ |work=The Star (Kenya) |date=7 October 2016 |language=en-KE}} and that Ruto also wanted him dead as well.{{cite news |last1=Lang'at |first1=Patrick |title=Boniface Mwangi now wants state security |url=https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/boniface-mwangi-state-security |work=Nairobi News |date=5 February 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Tubei |first1=George |title='William Ruto wants me dead like he killed Jacob Juma' Mwangi claims |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/boniface-mwangi-william-ruto-wants-me-dead-like-he-killed-jacob-juma-mwangi-claims/f4k9ll1 |work=Pulse Live Kenya |date=5 February 2017}} In the same month Ruto sued Mwangi for defamation.

He is married to Hellen Njeri Mwangi, whom he works with at Pawa 254. They have three children.{{Cite web|title=Youth of the Week: Boniface Mwangi – Rise Networks|url=https://risenetworks.org/yotw/youth-of-the-month-boniface-mwangi/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727022807/https://risenetworks.org/yotw/youth-of-the-month-boniface-mwangi/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Njeri Mwangi: My life with an activist|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000106376/njeri-mwangi-my-life-with-an-activist|last=Mukei|first=Cate|website=The Standard|language=en|access-date=2020-05-25}}

• Time: Next Generation Leaders 2015{{cite magazine|access-date=2019-10-12|title=This Former Photographer Wants Kenyans To Find Their Voices|url=https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/3897807/ngl-boniface-mwangi/|magazine=Time}}
• Mwangi was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2020.{{Cite web|last=pm|first=Brian Kimani on 7 December 2020-4:48|title=Larry Madowo Named Among Top 100 Most Influential Africans|url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/59996-larry-madowo-named-among-top-100-most-influential-africans|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Kenyans.co.ke|language=EN}}

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• {{Official website|https://bonifacemwangi.com/}}

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Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Kenyan photojournalists

Category:Kenyan activists