David Mutua holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, with a specialty in Applied Computer Science. He worked at an online news agency with the largest photo archive in East Africa where he designed the photography website, and was finally appointed Head of Photography after his skill and passion for photography was noticed as he would cover various events for the website. After working at the organization for 2 years, he left to pursue freelance photojournalism.
Since then, he has worked with a number of NGOs including: W.F.P, I.F.R.C, Church World Service, USAID, AMREF, Catholic Relief Service, UNICEF-ESARO, Concern Worldwide, International Organization for Migration, KenyaPharma, Practical Action, WASH United, Plan International on different assignments across Kenya and Africa. He has also done consultancy for communication teams such the AU/UN Information Service Team in Somalia. The consultancy entailed undertaking assignments for the African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM) and United Nations Office of Somalia (UNSOM) as well as other UN agencies in Somalia.
As the world of visual imagery grew, David has adopted video and multimedia production as another mode of disseminating information. By combining audio, text and still images, he has created a number of multimedia pieces for different clients and some have gone ahead to win awards. David’s work has been published in publications and newspapers such as UN News Daily Mail, The Huffington Post, The Observer and The Independent. His images have been used in the 2014 UNDP Somalia Yearbook, UNDP Support To The Implementation Of Susutainable Development Goal 1 – Poverty Reduction report, the Jonglei Food Security Program photo book, a 2015 production done by C.R.S detailing their work in South Sudan and funded by USAID, the 2017 South Sudan Famine appeal by Caritas Internationalis , in the 2017 START Network Drawdown Report during the 2017 Kenya Drought, as well as the 2018 and 2019 James Finlay’s Sustainability Report
David Mutua is a registered member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of East Africa (FCAEA). You can reach him on e-mail ( david[at]davidmutua[dot]com ) or connect on social media:
Awards & Honors
2021 2nd Place – Feed The Fututre #EndHunger Photo Competition
2016 2nd Place – Best of Nikon Kenya 2016 Competition
2013 Photographers Association of Kenya – Daily Life Photographer of The Year
2013 Photographers Association of Kenya – Runner’s Up, Sports Photographer of The Year
2012 Winner – INDIAFRICA: A Shared Future Photography