IASA-BAAC 2026 Conference

Name: Voices That Won’t Be Erased: Archiving Nairobi’s Gen Z Maandamano
Start: 2026-10-20T12:00:00+0300
End: 2026-10-20T12:30:00+0300

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Voices That Won’t Be Erased: Archiving Nairobi’s Gen Z Maandamano

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EEST

Education hall: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

In 2024, Nairobi’s streets pulsed with the energy of the Maandamano Gen Z protests — a youth-led wave of civic expression that transformed public spaces into arenas of resistance, identity, and democratic engagement. Mobile phones became lifelines of memory, capturing videos, photographs, voice notes, and live streams that documented a generation demanding to be heard. During this period, the Directorate of Records and Archives Management working alongside the Governor’s Media team at Nairobi City County Government took on the critical responsibility of documenting and preserving these moments. Their work focused on safeguarding voices often excluded from official narratives through the structured archiving of digital and audiovisual content.

This paper recounts the process of capturing Nairobi’s protest memory to addressing complex issues of authenticity, consent, and safety. It highlights the ethical responsibility of archival practices, recognizing that archives are not neutral but active spaces where inclusion, exclusion, and meaning are shaped. Using a narrative approach, the paper examines how protest footage, interviews, and citizen recordings were appraised and preserved. It explores the challenges of verifying content, protecting contributors, and ensuring fair representation, particularly for young voices that are frequently absent from formal archives.

In moments of civic tension, archives serve as spaces of truth-telling and accountability, bridging generations and preserving collective memory. This case demonstrates the vital role of local archival practice in protecting identity, authenticity, and historical memory during periods of social transformation.

Speakers

SUSAN KIBAARA

DEPUTY DIRECTOR RECORDS AND ARCHIVES MANAGEMENT, NAIROBI CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT

Susan Wambui Kibaara is the Deputy Director of County Records and Archives Management at the Nairobi City County Government, where she leads all records management functions. She is responsible for policy development, staff supervision, budget planning, training, and ensuring compliance... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EEST
Education hall: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Short Presentation, In Person

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Zoom link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81977024051
Zoom password 867213

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IASA-BAAC 2026 Conference

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