In 2020, film producer Sam Soko released the acclaimed documentary film, Softie.
The film follows seven years in the life of one of Kenya’s most infamous photojournalists, Boniface Mwangi as he decides to go from journalism to activism and to active politics.
The film depicts the journey that Mwangi and his wife, Njeri, embark on when he decides to take a step into national leadership and run for election in the neighbourhood he grew up in, Starehe Constituency.
It opens with Boniface orchestrating the now iconic parliament protests that saw pigs branded as Members of Parliament run wild at the August House.
Boniface orders for litres of blood to help with the protest that saw Parliament road and it's environs smeared with the blood they are ‘sucking out of Kenyans’.
The bold and ghastly protest gets Boniface arrested, a common phenomenon in his life as an activist.
Though Njeri has been familiar with Boniface’s activism, she still struggles with her husband being an outspoken figure who is constantly in danger.
She, however, supports him in his activism because she knows she can't stop him anyway.
Boniface and Njeri’s three children are also a big part of the film as he was already active in his activism by the time they were being born.
There is a scene where the family is embracing each other in prayer and one of the children asks God to give their father a better job that doesn't result in him getting hurt by the police.
This was after Boniface comes home from hospital after a terrible altercation with the police at a demonstration.
As the activism heightens, so does the danger.
At one point, Boniface received death threats from unknown people and this makes Njeri fear for her husband's life.
Njeri says that she has always known that to her husband, the country comes before family.
“It's always God, then country and then family for you,” she says as they discuss the issue in their car.
Boniface responds by saying that if he fights for the country first, then their young children will have a better future.
When Boniface decides to vie for Starehe MP seat, it throws their relationship and their family of five into unprecedented turmoil.
Njeri and the children even have to go into exile in the United States as the campaigns also result in the entire family getting threats on their lives.
Njeri is visibly shaken but Boniface is adamant that he is doing the right thing.
“How is your dying going to benefit your kids? How is it connected to our well-being?” She asks.
“If I need to die for Kenya in order to make it better for my kids then I'm willing to do it,” he says.
The title of the film ‘Softie’ comes from Boniface’s childhood when he was referred to as a softie for being small, soft and the youngest child.
But he soon sheds that name as he transforms into one of the boldest and most outspoken activists of today.
We see an exclusive and heartfelt portrait of their home life, all flaws included, and what price is paid when an activist is asked to make the ultimate choice.
Will he choose those who love him, or those who don’t know he exists? When it comes down to it, do you pick your family, or your country? The film takes you through a whirlwind of emotions.
From courage about standing up for what is right, to fear of what might happen to the small family, to sympathy for Njeri and the kids as she works to hold down the family fort as Mwangi fights for the country.
The film will be shown on KTN News on Jamhuri Day, Sunday, December 12 and can be streamed for free on YouTube from midnight Saturday.
Softie premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize for Editing, and was the Opening Night Film at the 2020 Hot Docs Festival.
It is directed by Sam Soko in his feature debut, and is produced by Sam Soko and Toni Kamau.
The Kenyan team also includes Executive Producer Bramwel Iro and Impact Producer Miriam Ayoo.
Softie is a production by LBx Africa in association with We are not the machine Ltd and EyeSteelFilm.
“From dynamic protests, death threats, family fights, and life-changing decisions, this film tells the story of their remarkable journey," Soko said.
"In a world where sowing seeds of division continues to be encouraged, I hope that telling this story will inspire people to fight for justice, and for a more equal and inclusive society, in their own way.”
For the past month, the documentary has been shown at community screenings in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, to receptive audiences, and now Softie will be shown on an even larger platform to Kenyans across the country as we celebrate our independence day.