James Quest - Creative Art
James Quest got into pictures out of curiosity. He was working as part of the production crew of a music television show when he stumbled across the creative world of picture making. Before he knew it, he was in love with photography—and was getting paid for it! In a relatively short period, James Quest has earned the trust and respect of top brands, creative agencies and photographers alike. His belief is that anything worth doing must be done with passion.
James Quest’s work may be found all over the African continent and around the World. His work with cameras has allowed him the honour to work with clients the world over, from East Africa to Congo, South Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Canada and New Zealand, just to name a few.
Born and brought up in the dry and dusty Horn of Africa to missionary parents, James Quest understands “impact.” Personal projects with impact are important to him; he is forever on the lookout for and developing creative ways of using his camera to make impact. James Quest works with non-profit organizations throughout Africa to photograph impactful phenomena and bring awareness to the needs of the African people.
James Quest would like to focus more on telling stories not only with photographs, but also through film. Having completed production of a short film, NASIBU, commercial spots, music shots and humanitarian docu’s, picture-in-motion is his new exciting frontier.
Peter Murimi - Journalist
Peter Murimi is a 33-year-old Kenyan who has produced and directed numerous documentary projects for local and international television networks, including the BBC, Channel 4 and Al Jazeera. Peter won the coveted title of CNN Journalist of the Year in 2004 for his piece, Walk to Womanhood, which addresses issues on Female Genital Mutilation, FGM. In 2005, he produced and directed the documentary, Get On Board, which was screened at the G8 Leaders Summit.
Other recent experiences include work done for Coca-Cola, UN HABITAT and other UN agencies. Notably, Peter worked as video and camera assistant on The Constant Gardener during his early years. In the last year, Peter has been involved in a climate-change series spanning Africa and Asia.
Boniface Mwangi - Photojournalist
Photography is my life. One of the most powerful tools in the world is a camera. The camera has been used to bring down dictators, change society and influence change. I strive to create vibrant, interesting and unusual images of the world in which we live. My life mantra is “Living my life to make a difference.” I make this difference through my work as a social documentary photographer.
Amidst the violence that followed the 2007 General Election in Kenya, l falsified my identity and risked my life to photograph the atrocities that my countrymen were inflicting on one another. In 2009, l disrupted a live, nationally broadcast presidential speech to protest the violent political system. I was beaten and arrested.
"Your photography is absolutely stunning and tells an important and powerful story for the world to hear.” These were the laudatory words of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She said this in a 2009 letter that she wrote to me.
My work has appeared in virtually all the important newspapers in the world. Among many other awards I have received, I have been named the CNN Africa Photojournalist of the year 2008 and 2010. I am a TED FELLOW and the founder of Picha Mtaani, a UN-funded initiative that focuses on reconciliation through photographic exhibitions and debate.
I am currently working on establishing Picture Power, an online platform that will use photography as a catalyst for social change across Africa and beyond.
David Mutua
David Mutua holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, with a specialty in Applied Computer Science. He also has extensive knowledge in Desk-Top Publishing (DTP) and holds a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification. He has worked at an online news media house, where he designed the photography website, and was finally appointed Head of Photography, owing to his skill and passion for photography. He was noticed following his coverage of diverse events for the website.
After two years at this organization, he left to pursue freelance photojournalism. Since then, he has worked with a number of NGOs, including Catholic Relief Service, UNICEF-ESARO, Concern Worldwide, International Organization for Migration, USAID, Kenya Pharma, Practical Action and Plan International.
As the world of visual imagery grew to adopt new styles of broadcasting, David has adopted multimedia production as a different mode of disseminating information. By combining audio, text and still images, he has created enduring multimedia pieces for different clients. Apart from humanitarian work, David has covered sports, concerts and music gigs for various publications and newspapers.
David Mutua is a member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of East Africa (FCAEA).
Ernest Langat - Accountant
I am a trained and experienced accountant and administrator, having pursued Certified Public Accountancy (CPA), Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Finance (ongoing), National Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management (ongoing), and National diploma in Business Administration (examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council). I am well versed in computerized financial accounting and reporting, business planning, budgeting and budget control systems, cost estimation and valuation and cash-flow management, project management, leadership management and teamwork skills.
Before joining Pawa254 and Mtaani Initiative, I worked at the following organizations: Mutitika Associates, Niche Partners and Associates, Top Grain Bakers Ltd and Anord Global Network Ltd. I continue to work with the following companies on consultancy basis: Mutitika Associates, Mcensal Limited, Mcensal School of Fashion and Design, Avidex Media Productions and World Mobilizations (K) Trust. I am also a Long Term Accredited International Observer for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
I am trained in project management (Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development, KISWACD), Management of NGOs and CBOs (KISWACD), leadership management and teamwork skills, as well as in International Observers Skills (Global Veterans Foundations and Peace Ambassadors) in and during election process.
Benson Kimathi - Writer / Editor
My work as a writer and copy editor at PAWA254 and Mtaani Initiative involves preparing written material for publication. As a copy editor, I spend most of my time poring over text, looking for mistakes and correcting them. Here, what I do might be termed article rescue: I take stories and, through careful repair, turn them into masterpieces of literature.
I especially love to be involved in editorial work whose overall theme might be termed “communicating for social change.” Among the editorial projects on which I have worked are analytical commentaries, features, news, press statements and releases, speeches, books and compendia.
An award-winning writer, I previously worked at Nation (newspapers) as a writer for more than three years, and as an editor at The Standard (newspapers) for five years. A book author, I am currently the proprietor of Magazine Makers, a Nairobi-based firm that offers editorial consultancy services. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and a Master’s degree in Psychology. For more about my writing and editorial consultancy services, visit my website at www.magazinemakers.net
Robert Munuku - Visual Artist
A Visual Artist from birth adept in the visual arts: illustration, traditional pencil, painting, t-shirt graffiti, digital airbrush and sequential art. I was a student of Shang Tao Media Arts College for a short stint where I did a course in Illustration & Design. I am also a Social Scientist and degree holder of Philosophy & Sociology (double major) and I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in Sociology at the University of Nairobi.
I have a total of 8 years working experience, and counting, which comprised of a 2 yr stint as a Field Researcher in an academic institute – MaryKnoll Institute of African Studies – and a 4 and a half year stint in the corporate world where I worked in various roles in an investment bank as a portfolio manager, research analyst and dealer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38CSBqQymo4).
In April 2012 I left the corporate world and joined Boniface Mwangi, founder of Pawa 254 & Mtaani Initiative, in his work. Here, serving as the project manager of Pawa 254, I would do humanitarian & advocacy work, work in empowering creatives and participate in activism that challenged the status quo in the country. On 4th March, 2013, I made a personal decision to retire from raw activism and returned to visual arts shifting my focus on using my skills set and other alternative tools in striving for the causes I believe in as I add value to society.
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