Kenyan photographer once arrested for ‘terrorism’, now homeless and jobless
A Kenyan blogger and photographer, who was arrested in April 2015 at a shopping mall in Nairobi on suspicion of being a terrorist, is now homeless and jobless.
Msingi Sasis Bekko, who runs www.nairobinoir.com, on Friday has recounted his ordeal following his arrest at Galleria Mall, Karen for taking pictures at the facility.
According to the photographer, his arrest and subsequent detention at Langata Police Station has left him jobless since his clients fear engaging him in any business.
“It has become nearly impossible for me sell any art or get any meaningful work as almost no one, both individuals and organisations, are willing to do a financial transaction or even be involved with a ‘terror suspect’. A ‘terror suspect’ is what my life has been in the past one year,” Bekko wrote on Facebook.
EVICTION NOTICE
“This week auctioneers seized everything in my studio. Every valuable thing they placed their hands on. All my cameras, computers, printers, other equipment, and anything that can quickly be sold including hard drives that had every work I have ever created. It’s all gone,” said Bekko.
The photographer, who blogs on Nairobi night life, further laments he risks spending nights on the same streets from where he once used to make a living for defaulted rent payment.
“I have also defaulted on my rent for many months now and have been issued with an eviction notice which has already expired. Whatever was left by the auctioneers in the form of clothing, furniture, and other personal items will be detained by the owner of the property and their agent to recover defaulted rent,” he says.
