Life Under Curfew
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit Kenya in March 2020, daily life shifted dramatically as the country entered a period of partial economic shutdown. For residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements, any expectation of government support was quickly overshadowed by the harsh realities of curfew enforcement—characterised by police violence, extortion, and fear.
Behind the scenes
Surveys conducted by the Social Justice Centres Working Group in April and May 2020 revealed that one fifth of respondents identified police brutality, extortion, and arrests as their primary security concern during this period. On Friday 19th November at the Dandora Ward 2 City Council Offices next to Dandora Secondary School, community members and the Social Justice Centres Working Group came together to visualise data about the effect of curfew orders and other pandemic policies. While under such threat, the community also showed strong signs of solidarity.
Watch the video of this award-winning project to see how these experiences were brought into the open through a powerful community-led process. From the launch event to the creation of the murals, and through interviews with community members themselves, the footage captures how data was transformed into something visible and collective—turning lived experiences into shared reflection, expression, and action in the heart of the community.
Photo Gallery
Explore the images to step further into the process, where conversations turned into markings, data became form, and public space became a canvas for shared experience. These moments capture how the community came together to see, question, and express.