Nairobi, Kenya

In the lead up to Commonwealth Day 2021, we are proud to share several personal connections that CPA UK staff members have with the Commonwealth.

Sonu Masania is the Regional Programme Manager for Asia and the Pacific in the International Partnerships Team.

Where was your family born and what is your family heritage?

My mum is one of 10 siblings and was born in Nairobi, Kenya. My grandfather travelled from the coastal town of Porbandar in Gujarat, India to Nairobi, Kenya for work in the late 1930s. Significant Indian migration to Kenya began following the creation of the British East Africa Protectorate in 1895 and large numbers of Gujaratis and Punjabis migrated freely in the 1930-50s seeking to utilise new economic possibilities in the Protectorate.

Once they had settled, my grandmother followed him out to Kenya a few years later with 3 small children in tow. It took them months to traverse the Indian Ocean on a ‘steamer’ (a huge steam powered boat) surrounded by families and communities with a similar story to tell. It was a few years after this sea-crossing that my mum and her siblings were born as British Citizens in Kenya.

What brought your family / community to the UK?  

Kenya achieved independence from Britain in 1963, many reports detail a period of volatility in African and Asian relations following this. Asians, along with Europeans, were given two years to acquire Kenyan citizenship and surrender their British passports however very few had submitted applications by the deadline creating distrust and growing animosity. Those without Kenyan citizenship soon became subject to increasing discrimination by the ruling government, led by Jomo Kenyatta.

In reality, this volatility had started long before independence and it was in reaction to this that my grandfather insisted that my grandmother and the youngest children (my mum included) travelled back to Porbandar, Gujarat in 1961. My grandfather stayed on to continue work as a plumber for a railway company, alongside his 3 eldest sons who were continuing their higher education in Kenya.

The Kenyan Immigration Act 1967 altered the landscape for non-Kenyans considerably and made it harder for them to work. Alongside many others, eventually my grandfather and uncles chose to utilise their British passports to settle in the United Kingdom. My mum and her younger siblings followed in the 1970s.

Sonu Masania's grandmother and her family in Kenya

What difficulties did your family/ community face and/or overcome integrating into the UK?

It’s hard to highlight difficulties as my family talks about this time with the rose-tinted glasses of hindsight taking the “we worked hard to give you a better life” approach. Digging into stories a little deeper starts to uncover situations of widespread racial discrimination; from small children shouting racial slurs in the street to being turned away from job vacancies because of your ethnicity.

To give you just a flavour: it was widely reported that in 1972 Leicester City Council had published ‘Do not come to Leicester’ advertisements in West African newspapers when many families facing expulsion by Idi Amin were preparing to flee to England. This clearly backfired as Leicester now has one of the largest Indian communities in the UK.

What does an inclusive, multi-cultural Britain mean to you?

An inclusive, multi-cultural Britain is a stronger Britain that learns from diversity of thought, perspective and experience. An inclusive, multi-cultural Britain takes responsibility and ownership for British colonial history and values the contribution of migrants. It enables growth and ensures that the voices of those who are underrepresented or disproportionately affected are at the heart of decision-making. An inclusive approach benefits everyone.

Recommendations for further reading, watching, listening which relate to your Commonwealth connection:

To listen: Three pounds in my pocket is a BBC Radio 4 series of stories of the pioneering migrants from the Indian sub-continent who moved to the UK in the 1950's.