Wajukuu Art Project: Painting hope in the heart of Mukuru

“Art is a vessel to sail in many spaces, even formal ones, to carry value, culture and dreams as one cannot separate art from humanity,” says Shabu Mwangi, co-founder and director of the Wajukuu Art Project in Mukuru.

For Shabu, a visual artist, art was not just a choice but a lifeline.

In the early 2000s, he believed there were only three paths for young people in Mukuru: push through with art, end up jobless, fall into crime, or if lucky, survive as a casual laborer.

These were not abstract fears but realities he and his peers lived daily.

Breaking Free from Crime and Hopelessness

In those years, Mukuru was marked by joblessness, poverty, and crime. With opportunities scarce, many youths were drawn into delinquency. Shabu and a group of ten young artists wanted something different.

“It was either you push through art, or you end up being jobless, a criminal or luckily a casual, for that is what life offered here. Crime was a lifestyle in my area, Mukuru,” Shabu recalled.

Out of this desperation, they formed a collective in 2003.

They named it Wajukuu, meaning grandchildren.

The name was a defiant twist on the Swahili proverb Majuto ni mjukuu huja baadaye (Regret is like a grandchild, it comes later.)

Their mantra became Majuto si mjukuu, regret is not our inheritance.

They declared they would break the cycle of hardship passed down through generations.

Art as a Solution

The project began with no physical home, no documents, and no money, just determination and raw talent.

Their breakthrough came when Hope Worldwide, an NGO supporting orphans and vulnerable children, gave them a space to work.

With a roof overhead, Wajukuu began to grow.

Curious children were soon drawn to their colorful space.

Unsure of what to do, the artists began teaching the children simple art skills.

This small act laid the foundation for what would become the heart of Wajukuu: nurturing the next generation through art.

“As an artist, when you face a challenge, you find a solution and do not run away from it,” Shabu said. The group sought training in art therapy, guidance, and counseling to better support the children who flocked to them.

Winning Community Trust

At first, the community was skeptical.

“Most people do not relate to or understand art, not out of negligence but because of cultural beliefs and the way art is linked to our traditional ways,” Shabu explains.

The young artists faced suspicion and doubt. But their persistence, discipline, and respect gradually changed perceptions. Today, parents compete for spots to enroll their children in Wajukuu programs.

“For us to be accepted I will credit it to the change of perception. We conducted ourselves well, and the community loved it,” Shabu reflected.

Achievements and Impact

In 2008, a supportive parent organized an exhibition at their home. The event’s success enabled the group to buy their first plot of land, a major milestone.

Since then, Wajukuu has flourished. Ngugi Waweru, co-founder and head of art, highlights their most notable achievements:

In 2022, they won the prestigious Arnold Bode Prize during Documenta 15 in Germany, elevating their work to the global stage.

They have hosted international and local artist residencies.

Additionally, this year, some of their students are set to participate in an exchange program with the University of the Arts in Berlin.

Locally, Wajukuu has expanded into multiple programs: A Maker Space, urban farming, art classes, rehabilitation art therapy, a Kids Club, mentorship, scholarships, short courses, and tuition support.

The Kids Club, led by Freshia Njeri, now enrolls over 120 children every weekend, with numbers surging during school holidays.

“There was a time when we had a really tough time finding kids for our program, but now we have so many that one intake can last us a whole year,” Njeri said.

The organization’s impact extends beyond art. During severe floods in Mukuru, Wajukuu managed to feed 1,000 households daily for two months, an act of solidarity Njeri described as one of their proudest moments as an organisation.

The personal transformations speak volumes. Kimathi Kaaria, who joined as a child in 2004, now heads the Maker Space.

Once shy and insecure, he says Wajukuu gave him the confidence to speak, network, and even challenge social attitudes around language.

“Nowadays I don’t let it get to me. Wajukuu gave me the confidence to express myself,” he said.

Challenges That Persist

Despite remarkable progress, challenges remain.

Funding is their greatest hurdle.

Wajukuu relies on art sales through their gallery, website, and exhibitions, supplemented by grants from foundations like Lambent and Waugh, and partners such as the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) and Codes Yetu.

Still, the money is never enough.and Codes Yetu. Still, the money is never enough.

They also struggle with government support. Shabu recalled how no official responded when they sought guidance after being nominated for the German award.

“It has been a constant clash as if we are competing, yet we are supposed to work together to implement initiatives that impact society,” he lamented.

To sustain their programs, Wajukuu sometimes hires external teachers to give trainers a break and introduce new perspectives.

Their dream is to buy more land, expand their facilities, and create self-sustaining income streams to secure their future.

A Vision of Dignity

“For so long, people in Mukuru have been looked down on because of where they come from,” Shabu said.

“We want Wajukuu to be remembered as a home of dignity, a place where people felt worthy, loved and cared for, and for the individuals who created it to be known as agents of change.”

From a small collective of struggling youths, Wajukuu has grown into a force of transformation, showing how art can be a solution to poverty, crime, and hopelessness.

Its story proves that even in the most difficult environments, creativity can carve out dignity, belonging, and hope.