Steve Kiza - Three brothers, one vision
Steve Kiza — Behind the Camera, beyond the label
At just 21 years old, Steve Kiza has built a reputation in Kakuma as one of the most sought-after young photographers and filmmakers — but his journey began with nothing more than curiosity, persistence, and a borrowed laptop.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Steve was only nine when war broke out in 2013. His family fled through Uganda before arriving in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, where they hoped to rebuild their lives. “I didn’t know what was happening, our parents just carried us, and we ran,” Steve recalls.
Schooling was limited — after finishing primary school, Steve never made it to secondary education. Instead, his real classroom became a small photography studio run by a neighbour in the camp. At first, he swept the floors in exchange for two hours of computer time each day, using the studio’s laptop to watch YouTube tutorials on photography, video editing, and storytelling. “That’s how I started. I used to sweep the studio, and in return he let me learn. After a year or two, he gave me the keys. He saw how passionate I was — if I wasn’t at home, you’d find me there.”
Those hours turned into years of self-taught dedication. He interned at the studio for no pay, learned media production at Season of the Time Media Productions (STMP) and was mentored by his older brother Pascal, who became both teacher and collaborator. They worked closely together exploring how light, composition, framing, ISO, and aperture shape an image, and by 2020, Steve had progressed to using professional camera equipment
His first paid shoot earned him 200 Kenyan shillings (about $1.50) for 300 edited photos. When he tried to pay his mentor, Fidele Wabenga - Fidele refused, telling him to save for his own camera instead. That advice became the foundation for Steve’s future. “I kept saving and pushing myself. I promoted my work online and eventually achieved my dream — I built my own studio.” It took five years and nearly $10,000 USD to complete — funded partly through a GoFundMe campaign organized by a friend abroad. The studio was designed to rival professional setups in Nairobi and now serves as a creative hub for others in Kakuma.
“I wanted to create a space where creatives could come together, brainstorm ideas, and challenge unemployment in our community. People here have skills, just not opportunities.”
Through his production company Film.It, Steve and his peers document refugee stories, produce music videos, and offer training in photography, video, and audio production. His work has caught the attention of major organizations — UNHCR Kenya, FilmAid, Citizen TV Kenya, and even the U.S. Ambassador, Steve was chosen to document his visit to Kakuma. “It means a lot to see refugees telling their own stories. Before, professionals would come from outside to document our lives, now we do it ourselves — because we’re the ones who live it.” Steve’s breakout project, Refugee Wishes, a music video collaboration with local artists, Lastic, became a hit on YouTube, celebrated for its raw emotion and authentic visual storytelling.
Now, as a student with AMALA, an international program offering secondary education to displaced youth, Steve studies Ethical Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship, building on the foundation that Kakuma gave him.
“Everything I know, I learned here, We don’t work to be wealthy — we work to survive. We didn’t not chase our dreams — they were taken away from us. But even so, we keep creating, so the next generation will have something to hold on to.”
Working with his brothers Pascal and Patient is a source of pride and purpose.
“The best thing is the freedom we have. If something isn’t done right, we can speak up and find a solution. The hardest thing is leaving our mum and sisters at home while we work — it’s not always safe. But our family believes in us. We’re providing for them, and that means everything.”
“When people see my portrait, I want them to know It’s a refugee behind that camera. A lot of people believe refugees are vulnerable — we are not. We have dreams, and we’re here chasing them. Refugees can.”
Through every frame he captures, Steve Kiza is proving that talent and determination are stronger than circumstance — that even in displacement, vision and creativity can thrive.