ONLY CONNECT
There is a glimmer of hope with the ceasefire in Gaza although given, Netanyahu unilaterally ending the last one, the world can’t trust him. Trust is so important and it comes through connecting with mutual respect and showing, through actions matching words, that we are worthy of being trusted. My village of Kennington(Oxfordshire) and the village of Musanda (Kenya) connected on Saturday 11 October 2025. The attached photos from Kennington and Musanda (at the end of the blog) are testimony that this was a JOYOUS occasion that is to be treasured. The chair of the twinning committee, Rev Samson Kiponiyi (Associate Vicar of Kennington) connected with Rev Dr Joseph Wandere Maumo and the Imam Hamis Sakasa.
Taking part in the celebrations in Kennington were Kennington/ Oxford Silver Band, Kennington Chorale, Kennington Amateur Dramatic Society, the scouts and the Friends of Kennington Library. As well as entertaining each other over zoom there was a meet and greet followed by tree planting.
The twinning could not have happened without the support of Kennington Parish Council. The chair of the Parish Council, Alan Cobb, made a moving speech in English and SWAHILI! (His first brave attempt at the language.) It’s worth reading.Twinning Speech by Alan Cobb ( Kennington Parish Council)
I’ve known Nancy Mundenyo Hunt, founder of the Nasio Trust since 2014 when I cast her on Oxtopia for The Oxford Times. Nancy HuntNancy organised the events in Kenya.
Following writing a novel together, Not so Black &White, (NSB&W) we set about building the first community library in west Kenya. NSB&W was published during Covid so sadly had NO launches.
With John Argyle, the chair of the Friends of Kennington Library I talked about how storytelling is universal and can connect us. Cosmic Cats, a book of stories by children from here and there will be the first book in the library. We said goodbye with KADS singing THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC. (Many years ago, in 1978 I was the founding chair of KADS.)
The zoom connection was followed by tree planting in Kennington and in Kenya.
There is enthusiasm to connect through sport too via Kennington boys and girls football teams. What’s not to like? The Union Jack and the Kenyan Flag were on display to celebrate each village and not to create hatred and division .
