01 / SELECTED HUMAN STORIES
A photograph is a beginning, not the whole story. Across Kenya, I document people navigating change — from coastal communities protecting marine livelihoods to families building resilience through peace, agriculture, and the recycling economy. These stories are about dignity, courage, and the choices that shape everyday life.
Photographed by Paul Wambugu Kinyanjui | Bobo Photography Ltd, Nairobi.
Award-winning photography / Marine conservation
Pate Island, Lamu County, Kenya
On Kenya's coast, octopus fishing sustains women and families. This photograph, created for Northern Rangelands Trust's coastal conservation work, celebrates the people behind a locally led marine livelihood. NRT reports that the image received the top award in USAID's 2022 Locally Led Development Initiatives Photo Contest.
Read the story →Portraiture / Climate resilience / Peacebuilding
Kenya–Ethiopia border | March 2024
I met Gubalo at home while documenting VSO's work in communities facing drought and conflict along the Kenya–Ethiopia border. Her portrait, featured by VSO, holds a moment of warmth amid the effects of extreme weather, loss, and uncertainty. The encounter reminded me that a story of resilience can begin with a face and a moment of trust.
Read the story →Livelihoods / Youth empowerment / Circular economy
Nairobi, Kenya | 2024
Kevin leads a waste-picking group and sees recycling as a path to work and opportunity. VSO published my photographs of him and his fellow waste pickers, alongside my reflections on their choices and determination. The story is about youth agency, dignity in work, and the possibilities within a changing recycling economy.
Read the story →Women's livelihoods / Waste economy
Dandora, Nairobi
A mother of three navigating the difficult conditions around Dandora's dumpsite, Beth appears in my photographs at work, at home and receiving protective equipment. VSO reports that volunteer-supported training helped her double her income. The series focuses on the need for safe work and greater opportunity for women sustaining their families through recycling.
Read the story →Women's livelihoods / Documentary portraiture
Nairobi, Kenya
Doreen's everyday work supports the recycling system, yet exposes her to dangerous conditions and economic insecurity. My photographs, published by VSO, follow her at home and with fellow waste pickers as their communities work toward safer conditions and fairer opportunities. These images ask viewers to see the people behind an often-overlooked service.
Read the story →Circular economy / Women's livelihoods
Kibera, Nairobi
In Kibera, waste pickers navigate difficult working conditions while reclaiming material for recycling. My photographs of Vanessa and Pauline at work form part of VSO's account of efforts to improve safety, strengthen skills, and turn difficult labour into more stable livelihoods.
Read the story →Climate-smart agriculture / Women's leadership
Siaya County, Kenya
In western Kenya, I photographed women's groups adapting to changing rainfall and farming conditions through shared knowledge, intercropping, and solar-powered irrigation. VSO published photographs of the Victoria Young Women Group, Fronteer Women's Group, Arise and Shine, and Alego Young Turks. One frame shows Irene and Melen celebrating a harvest — a small moment that expresses collective possibility.
Read the story →Community leadership / Peacebuilding
Kenya–Ethiopia border
Ibrahim is a volunteer supporting peacebuilding in a border region facing recurring insecurity and environmental pressures. My portrait of him was published by VSO as part of its coverage of volunteer-driven change. It is a story about people who remain committed to their communities despite adversity.
Read the story →PEOPLE. PLACES. PURPOSE.
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