karibu magazine 3rd edition

Kenyans in
Hertfordshire
I came to Watford in the mid 90`s. My aim was
to study acquire more skills and head back to
homeland Kenya where I would use my skills to
better myself, support my parents and my family.
I was still very young having just completed my
National Diploma in Electrical Engineering at the
Mombasa polytechnic and the UK was the perfect
destination for me to realise my dream
Life in the UK was not easy. I did not have many
Kenyans or African friends therefore most of
my spare time was spent indoors watching telly,
reading magazines with the occasion listening to
the radio. The internet was not yet developed,
the music was different, the food was not what
I was used to, making a call back home was very
expensive and therefore it felt very lonely and
homesick but I was somehow lucky because my
brother was already studying here and through
him I had met other Kenyans some who are still
in the UK and we have maintained our friendship
to this day.
My wife joined me in 2000 and between n 2003
and 2007 we were blessed with two children.
The year 2000 saw a big change in lifestyle. Unlike
the mid 90`s the Kenyan population in Watford
had grown significantly but there was still
no cohesiveness and even though Kenyans knew
each other we never came together with an aim
of supporting each other. Looking at my young
children I realised that part of their identity as
a Kenyan would vanish and they would remain
Kenyan only by virtue of having been born of
Kenyan parents. I shared this thought with a
few friends and we agreed to form a group that
would unite us, celebrate us and support each
other in times of need. This was not straight
forward as not all Kenyans bought into this idea.
Most people were happy to carry on as they
did, working and supporting themselves the
best way they knew. However, in 2012 we had a
breakthrough and majority of Kenyans living in
Hertfordshire bought into the idea prompting the
formation of Kenyans Hertfordshire Association. I
was nominated Chairman of the group a position
I hold to this day.
Some of the aims of our group are:
1. To bring together all people from
Kenya and people of Kenyan heritage
living in Hertfordshire for a
united Kenyan community.
2. To identify members’ needs and
offer support where necessary.
3. To educate members, including
our youth the different Kenyan cultures
and importance of National
unity.
4. To Promote economic, Social, Cultural,
and Civic activities among
members and communities, and to
the extent possible, seize opportunities
to display and teach Kenyan
culture to the larger communities
26 3RD EDITION | | JULY 2017 2018