arvind.eyunni's photostream

I spoke to Michael for 45 minutes, continuing our research in day two, trying to get the perspective of older people and parents, to find out if they felt that their children were growing up in the best conditions and if the situation was improving. Michael had no children and wasn't married, but I was very interested to know of how their community organization functioned, to learn of inter-tribal affiliations and whether or not there were any segregations based on tribe.

Tribal affiliations aren't necessarily strong in the area he said. During the 2008 election violence in Kenya, Kangemi was quite stable with business as usual. There was such a mix in the slum that no-one dare pick a side.

Michael is part of a burial service organization where members contributed regularly to a fund that will ensure proper burial for them when the time comes. They have regular meetings and according to him, this is as close to a community as it gets in Kangemi. It could be due to the delicate matter perhaps, but there is a great deal of selflessness in their work he says.

These guys mean business... There's a starting 11 + 3 subs as a friend of mine noted. On noticing my camera, one of the older boys ordered everyone else to stand in the way that pro teams did for their team photographs... I really wish I had better gear. I ventured into Kangemi with only a 50 and a total lack of telephoto capability. As a matter of fact, I haven't had a telephoto lens or shot with one in about a year now... That's quite some time really!!

Yes, sometimes I wished I saw him with his wife and kids of perhaps just getting off his boat or something. I like meeting people that really stand out and I had no problem asking him for a picture on this day in Quebec city. They're the easy ones because they're already expecting it anyway.

His pose is deliberate yes, but its what he's used to... And perhaps I'm just not comfortable enough to ask him to do something stupid... One day...

Yes I made her sit there because I wanted to look like i knew what I was doing. I mean I totally planned this out and it made all the sense in the world to Alice. :)