The 2007-8 Kenyan crisis was a violent political, economic, and humanitarian catastrophe that erupted following a disputed election result. Soon afterwards I began working on a book called Trading Places - the Merchants of Nairobi (Thames & Hudson). I met this man who told me a harrowing story about how, in an ethnic attack, his sister and children were murdered when their house and business were torched by a rampaging mob. He and his wife were trying to rebuild their lives. The hotel was a café, serving drinks and snacks.
Oil on canvas.
