MUSINGS OF A NAIROBIAN.: POLITICAL GRAFFITI THAT HAS ENTHUSED NAIROBI

Many at times folks consciously disregard or walk past graffiti wondering “who on earth got the time to put it up any way!!” But not the graffiti in Nairobi. I refuse to believe that any person will walk past it and they’re not tempted to let their eyes feast on each and every flashy piece of art. What’s more, the mystery surrounding the graffiti propels the tale to a whole new and exciting level.

what the activists feel about Kenyan members of parliament.

Apparently, creation of political awareness ahead of the country’s General Election has taken a new direction. Graffiti that ‘mysteriously’ appears in the dead of night is the new avenue that activists are using to create awareness in these exciting times. Turns out this isn’t just ordinary graffiti. It bears an unequivocal message targeting the Kenyan voters. In biblical context christen it Kenya’s “handwriting on the wall”

Anonymous youthful activists have left Nairobi abuzz with talk following their clandestine mission to spray political graffiti across the city. Their mission is aimed at ensuring voters are furnished with the traits to look for in leaders seeking elective posts.

It seems that their intended purpose is being achieved, if the scores of curious locals and foreigners who flock to view the murals are anything to go by. The graffiti is not only bold but also very daring, as it depicts a typical Kenyan politician as a greedy vulture who exploits his power for his own selfish gains at the expense of others!

a list of the corruption scandals Kenya has experienced

The graffiti further outlines the various corruption scandals that have marred the country in the past. In view of which, the artists go on to describe the kind of leaders that Kenya needs for her future wellbeing. The artists hit the city streets in the dead of the night armed with their paraphernalia and swiftly unleash their game with the moon light and calm nights as the only witnesses.

City residents awake to catchy murals on previously plain walls and at very strategic points, which are hard for the eye to miss. Kenya’s social network has been abuzz with talk inclined to have people view the murals before the city council paints over them.

The council has strongly condemned these paintings terming them illegal. The persons behind the graffiti have however relentlessly continued to embark on their campaign, undeterred by the council’s acts. They hold that theirs is a noble mission; that of creating political awareness.

some of the messages the activists seek to pass across.

The murals have attracted a lot of attention both nationally and across the globe. At no point in time will you miss people clicking away their cameras as they try to get the best shots of the art works. But then again, as earlier stated, the fascination only lasts until the city council employees descend on the works. Hopefully though, the intended message has been passed across by then.

A council worker paints over some of the graffiti

The murals portray the Kenyan voters as the ones with the all important ability to change the country’s leadership through their votes. They are vehemently urged to vote in credible leaders during the upcoming election.

one of the murals on a Nairobi city street wall

There is no doubt that exciting political times lie ahead for Kenya even as political campaigns gain momentum. It remains to be seen, however, the effects of the mysterious political graffiti on Kenyan’s voting patterns and attitudes in the upcoming elections.