Pioneers of the Kenyan Press

Priya was born two years after the Colonial Times started printing and from a young age, his interest lay more in the photos that accompanied news stories. When he entered his teenage years, Priya convinced his father to buy him a camera, and when he received a Rolliflex, it became part of him: he was never found without it. Priya, like his uncle GL Vidyarthi, let his interest guide him, and by the time he was in his late teens, Priya got his first job as a staff photographer for the Colonial Times.

Inspired by his uncle’s tireless efforts and the mission of the Colonial Times – Free, Frank, and Fearless, Priya’s photography slowly took on a political bent. His job required him to attend and photograph public events such as royal visits, but soon Priya was also at rallies for land rights and protests for political equality, positioning his camera and capturing moments that would be valued for years to come. It took bravery to be at the frontline of some of these gatherings where the outcome was unpredictable. For the less intense news locations, Priya observed and took it upon himself to photograph the race divide between Europeans and Africans.