Celebrity photographer Joseph Maina Muciiri (Kapedo).
They say women only listen to people who give instructions on how to look good in a photo—and that is exactly what makes Joseph Maina, alias, 'Kapedo' a sensation.
With his signature poses and breathtaking photography, he has carved out a name for himself, drawing top celebrities eager to work with him.
Born and raised in Nyandarua County, Kapedo says he struggled with identity, frequently changing schools in search of acceptance.
In this interview, he explains how financial hardships forced him to drop out of Form Two, leading him to take up odd jobs, from cleaning hotels to unblocking sewers.
It was during his days as a street hawker that he stumbled upon poetry, a craft that saw him grace the Churchill Show stage.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, his path took an unexpected turn toward photography, an art he learned through sheer determination and YouTube tutorials.
A bold move to photograph comedian Eric Omondi became his breakthrough moment, opening doors to celebrity photography.
Kapedo has recently worked with top influencers like The Murayas and Wa Jesus Family, among others.
What does the name Kapedo mean, and where did it originate from?
The name Kapedo was given to me when I was working as a hawker in Gikomba market. A certain guy started calling me Kapedo because he thought I was very aggressive when it came to achieving what I wanted in life.
The name stuck. Interestingly, the word Kapedo means a great river, which I later found fitting for my journey.
Can you share a bit about your background? Where did you go to school, and how far did you go?
I grew up in Nyandarua County. I’m the last born in a family of three.
I repeated several classes and ended up going to four different primary schools. In high school, it was even more complicated because I went to six different schools but never completed my education.
I dropped out in Form Two due to financial struggles.
My mother couldn't afford school fees for my sister and me, so I let her continue while I sought work.
Why did you attend so many schools?
Haha! I struggled a lot with my identity, especially growing up without a father. I was bullied because I didn’t fit in. My dad passed away when I was two months old.
I had my own unique interests—music, activities and radio stations. I just saw the world differently.
Being bullied affected me deeply. It made it hard for me to settle anywhere, and I kept changing schools, searching for a place where I could feel safe and accepted.
You know when you are constantly being judged, you just want to find an environment where you can be confident, where people understand and embrace you.
What did your mum think about that?
It is every parent's dream to see their children succeed in school so I gave her a hard time. But she never gave up on me.
You know, back in the day, parents were not always open to conversations about things like mental health or personal struggles.
It was not common to sit down and talk to your mum about how you were being treated or about your fears.
My mum believed in me, she genuinely wanted the best for me.
I was different, and she accepted that. And for that, I will always love and appreciate her.
Joseph Maina Muciiri.
What happened after you dropped out of school?
At 16, I left home and started working, but it was not easy.
I took various jobs, from working in a hotel as a cleaner, washing clothes for people, hawking, and even unblocking sewages.
When I turned 18, I started hawking at Globe Roundabout, and that is when I discovered my passion for poetry.
I found my way to the Kenya National Theatre, where I realised I was good at spoken word poetry. That eventually led me to perform on the Churchill Show.
How did you transition from poetry to photography?
When Covid-19 hit, I suddenly found myself without a stable source of income. I started considering going back to the village.
Then I met a guy who had a camera, and he suggested I start taking photos. I agreed, and he lent me the camera. Still, I did not take photography seriously until 2021.
That is when I finally decided to learn it properly.
I started going to the streets, taking pictures, and then editing them on my phone.
YouTube became my teacher and I watched tutorials on everything from colour grading to retouching and composition.
One night, comedian Eric Omondi called me. He told me that Butita had mentioned I could write scripts. I had been writing for a while, mostly poetry.
Eric needed a poem for a project on mental health at Chiromo Hospital. That night, I wrote it, and the next morning, I went to church to record it. Later that day, I met Eric at the National Theatre, where he was shooting a video. I asked if I could take him a picture.
He agreed. Eric was dressed in black, with a smoke machine creating an atmospheric effect. At that moment, something clicked. I started directing him, creating setups I had never seen before.
I had no formal training, but the ideas flowed naturally.
Without realising it, I was guiding him on how to pose, something I had been doing instinctively for years.
The pictures turned out amazing. I rushed home, edited them quickly, and sent them to him even before his main photographer finished editing.
He was so impressed that he replaced his photographer. Eric paid me Sh 10k for four pictures. That was a lot of money for me back then. It was a turning point in my career.
That opened doors. I started working with celebrities like Otile Brown and Jeff Koinange.
But over time, I felt something was missing. Despite the success, I struggled with finding purpose in my work. I didn’t feel fulfilled.
What impact did working with Pastor T have on your journey?
At a point when I was almost giving up on the industry, I crossed paths with a man named Bennyhinn Walubengo.
He is a narrator, someone who tells stories in a way that is both powerful and motivational.
He is someone who truly impacted my life.
When I first saw him, I was drawn to his content and his style.
I told him that I would love to take his photos. At the time, I was searching for purpose, trying to find a deeper meaning behind what I was doing.
Our meeting turned out to be more than just a coincidence.
Looking back, I believe God used Bennyhinn as a destiny connector. One day, he told me he wanted to introduce me to someone, Pastor T.
I was in a dark place mentally, and it showed in how I carried myself.
But when I met Pastor T, he didn’t judge me based on my appearance. He welcomed me with kindness and respect.
Pastor T looked through my work and was impressed.
He asked what kind of camera I used, and I told him it was a small one. He smiled and said, “The photographers here use high-end cameras, and yet you are producing great work with what you have.”
That was in his church in Limuru. On the very first Sunday, I showed up, he acknowledged me, and before I knew it, I was capturing moments at every service.
Eventually, I got the chance to travel with him to Samburu for a five-day shoot. But deep down, I was still searching for a way to connect my photography with a greater purpose.
My camera was on its last legs, and I had no money to buy another one.
I was doing all this for free, but to me, it was about serving God with the gift He had given me.
Then Pastor T gifted me a camera, my very first professional camera worth half a million shillings.
That was a turning point in my career. I still have that camera today, and it represents not just my growth but the faith and support that changed my life.
What are some of your most memorable experiences as a photographer?
One of my best moments was capturing Eric Omondi in a smoke-filled setup. Another unforgettable experience was the five-day shoot in Samburu with Pastor T.
Seeing the raw beauty of Kenya through my lens was life-changing.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I want to use my photography to tell meaningful stories, especially those that inspire and bring change.
I also want to mentor young photographers and show them that talent, paired with hard work and faith, can take you far.
I believe photography is my calling, and I want to use it for a greater purpose.
How has the experience been working with celebrities?
Amazing.
Interestingly, my rise to fame didn’t come from working with celebrities. My most viral videos featured ordinary people with little to no social media presence.
On July 25th, 2024, a video of me demonstrating poses to a lady went viral and I saw the potential and decided to upload my version.
One of my first models had just 1,000 followers, but after our video, she gained 15,000.
Another viral video featured a private couple, both doctors, whose content unexpectedly blew up online, attracting millions of views.
At that point, I had not collaborated with any big names.
When I finally started working with celebrities, I already had 500K followers on TikTok and 300K on Instagram.
My success came from organic content that resonated with people.
Fame is not just about celebrities but about authenticity and connection.
What advice would you give to young people?
Never give up. No matter where you come from or how difficult your journey may seem, keep pushing forward.
Find something you love and give it your all. Be unique, surround yourself with the right people, and most importantly, trust in God, your breakthrough will come when you least expect it.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was from Eric Omondi: the power of urgency.
He believes in acting immediately, if he shoots a video, he wants it edited and posted right away.
That mindset changed me. I realised that success requires speed, discipline, and execution.
Working with him also helped me improve my people skills, taught me to be more aggressive in my craft, and reinforced the importance of meeting deadlines.
What are your rates like?
Quite affordable. My charges start at Sh10k for standard shoots, while wedding packages begin at Sh100k, depending on location and other logistics.
