Peace Tree Network (PTN), in partnership with the Creating Safer Space Research Network, Aberystwyth University, and Hekima University College, has released groundbreaking research on Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) strategies in Kenya.
This study comes at a critical time when communities across the country continue to grapple with police brutality, arbitrary arrests, and excessive use of force. Despite constitutional reforms and oversight mechanisms, many citizens—especially youth and residents of informal settlements—remain vulnerable to systemic violence.
What the Research Explores
The report investigates how civil society organisations (CSOs) and grassroots communities are using artivism—the fusion of art and activism—as a powerful tool to confront police brutality. By centering the voices of artists, youth, human rights defenders, and affected communities in Nairobi and Kisumu, the study provides a timely perspective on nonviolent approaches to protection, advocacy, and social change.
Through music, spoken word, murals, theatre, photography, and digital platforms, artivists are not only documenting injustice but also creating spaces for dialogue, healing, and collective action. These creative strategies challenge impunity, humanise victims, and mobilise communities toward accountability in ways that traditional advocacy alone cannot achieve.
Why It Matters
The findings highlight that artivism is more than expression—it is a strategy for protection and mobilisation. It shows how creativity can transform civic spaces, amplify marginalized voices, and foster accountability. At the same time, the research underscores the challenges faced by artists and CSOs, including limited resources, institutional resistance, and safety risks.
A Call to Action
This publication invites policymakers, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and communities to recognize the value of creative, community-driven approaches to human rights protection. It calls for investment in civic space, youth engagement, and accountable policing systems to ensure dignity and justice for all citizens.
Peace Tree Network is proud to lead this important conversation, and the report stands as both a reflection and a roadmap for building safer, more inclusive societies.