Boniface “Softie”, Mwangi was a noted photographer who documented the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007. His work was also published in this newspaper. He was a strong advocate for activism and fought to reform the corrupt politics of his country, which included vote-buying, dynasties, and postcolonial tribalism.
Mwangi is presented in Sam Soko’s often bewildering documentary, “Softie,” as an unassumingly stirring figure. He is an avid advocate for democracy but a skilled realist about the nefarious forces at his country.
The movie covers a decade’s worth of national and personal history. Mwangi leads protests, from marches that were attacked by riot officers to an act that saw pigs being released outside Parliament — and then he runs for the legislative office.
It’s in many ways a standard campaign documentary under volatile conditions. Check-ins with Mwangi’s wife Njeri and their children punctuate their campaign’s voter outreach. They also struggle to defeat their rival candidate who is a pop singer.
Njeri takes Mwangi’s family and sends them death threats. Njeri then gives the children a new home in Jersey City. Soko is filled with eye-popping footage and analysis of violence and unrest.
The film does not give enough attention to Mwangi’s struggles to balance politics and family, but it does show his policies.
Soko is credited for not softening Mwangi’s landing. The outcome of the election is almost an afterthought to his heroic efforts. The film’s flimsy attempts to capture the complex history and on-the-ground campaigning could have been better.
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