In 2012, a group of poets were arrested in Nairobi when they staged a street poetry event near Parliament buildings.
With the help of human rights activists, the poets were released. Street poetry is a new concept in Kenya.
Poetry groups like Eldoret poets association and Kenyan Poets Lounge have given street poetry a try by staging poetry events on the streets of Eldoret and Nairobi respectively.
The response from the public was very disappointing at first but over the past two years, the public is beginning to appreciate street poetry.
For those who are not in the know, street poetry aims at reaching a larger audience indiscriminately.
Artists perform their pieces openly on the streets, targeting those who will care to listen. As opposed to indoor poetry events that target a particular audience who pay, street poetry is usually a free event for those who happen to be present.
With a lot of sensitization, street poetry is headed in the right direction. Even the authorities now seem to embrace it.