The general Miguna Miguna has come to the defence of activist Boniface Mwangi after revelation that Mwangi sold pictures of Kikuyus and Luos killed during the 2007 PEV led to an attack that it is very immoral of Boni to profiteer off images he shot during the Post Election violence.
Dr. Miguna has backed Boni saying all photojournalists profit from their photos, just like writers, scholars, intellectuals, inventors, innovators and other producers and creators who have a right to earn from their Work.
But he took the photos. Nobody stopped anyone from taking and publishing the photos. All photojournalists profit from their photos, just like writers, scholars, intellectuals, inventors, innovators and other producers and creators have a right to earn from their WORK.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) May 15, 2019
After the 2007/8 Post Election Violence, he realised that showing and publishing photos of the violence was not enough. Together with his friends and fellow journalists, Boniface led a project dubbed “PichaMtaani” an exhibition to foster dialogue of reconciliation and healing. Over 50 exhibitions were conducted around the country attracting over 2 million people.
The debate over the value of pictures of the dead makes me think about @bonifacemwangi's excellent 2012 @pichamtaani exhibition of images from the 07-08 postelection violence. It is worth reflecting on the importance of seeing those gruesome photos. https://t.co/4godfhzv33 #Kenya
— Jason Patinkin (@JasonPatinkin) January 18, 2019
A brief story of his camera journey details his mother Wakiuru sacrificing their house rent to buy Boniface his first camera at the age of 14. This was the start of pursuing his passion. He captured a few photos when he was young, including the Nairobi Bomb Blast that happened on August 7th 1998.
In 2004, he joined the East Africa School of Journalism. While studying there, he did internship for Kenya’s largest newspaper, the Standard, and was later employed there in 2005 upon graduation.
It is at The Standard where he found his voice. Armed with his camera and pen, he covered many stories as a journalist including injustices that happened around the country. He covered stories where people’s rights were taken from them including harassment and beatings by police, protests, and killings of the innocent. His photos and written articles showed the plight of ordinary Kenyans in their struggle for justice.