The connection between Kenyans with Townsville and particularly with James Cook University is one that goes way back in time. We might have to approach JCU go get records of the first Kenyan student to be admitted to this esteemed institution of learning to know when the earliest Kenyans arrived to study in Townsville. Whether the first Kenyan to ever live in Townsville was indeed student or not is as much my guess as it is yours, I guess with time we shall get to know somehow. That none withstanding, the number people of Kenyan descent who have for various reasons called Townsville home has increased and continue to increase. Currently we estimate that number to stand at just below one hundred people. With the increase in numbers it was only natural for a sense of community amongst the Kenyans to spring up and take root.

 

The idea of forming an association of Kenyans living in Townsville was formally mooted sometime in late 2012 or early 2013. Conversations had been going around for a while amongst various circles within the community to try and come up with an association for the mutual benefit of all Kenyan living in Townsville, seeing that our numbers had grown significantly and continued to grow. One of the early proponents of this push to formally create an association of Kenyans living in Townsville was Duncan Mwebia who had moved to Townsville in 2009 together with his family from Adelaide. Duncan shared his thoughts/ideas with some of the community members to gauge the suitability of the idea as well as buy-in from wider community. The support to go ahead was overwhelming. A date was agreed to gather community members for a get-together to be used as launching pad to form the association. The exact date eludes me, but it was sometime around the Easter of 2013 and the place was Balgal Beach. Come the day a large number of Kenyans both young and not so old trooped to the beautiful and serene Balgal beach for an afternoon of nyamachoma (barbequed meat), other foods and drinks. The main agenda for the day was to propose to all Kenyans present the idea of formally forming the association, outlining some of the core objectives and proposing an interim leader. The idea of forming an association was voted for overwhelmingly and the Joseph Kemei was appointed to take up the reigns as the chairman of the amorphous association and guide the affairs of the association in the interim. He was given the mandate to call upon other members of the community to help him carry out his role as he deemed fit and as needs arose. Joseph accepted the appointment and let the association for about a year in which he managed to organised get-togethers for members on a regular basis. A memorable get-together during that period was one organised to mark Mashujaa Day (20th October 2013). The venue was at the Kemei’s residence with the highlight being a historic synopsis of the meaning of Mashujaa day given to the younger ones by Dr FrankRonoh.

 

It was during the tenure of Joseph Kemei that members felt the need to formally register the Association. It was the opinion of most members that the needs of community and which influenced the objectives of the association would be best catered for if the association was duly registered. For this to happen members passed that a task force be appointed and mandated to drive the agenda of getting the association duly incorporate. A four-person task force comprising of Dominic Owato as chair, Kathy Anini as Secretary, Brian Saki and Makenna Muchai as members was appointed in early 2014. The task force’s terms of reference was as follows:-

1. Come up with possible names for the association

2. Outline the objectives of the association

3. Develop the association’s model rules

4. Propose the leadership structure

 

The task force was given two months to sit and deliver on their mandate which they did. By the end of March 2014 they had delivered on their task and presented their proposal to members in April 2014 for consideration and adoption at the general meeting held at the Sound Shell Building of the then Townsville City Council Thuringowa Office. Members deliberated on the proposal voting to adopt the name Umoja Kenya Townsville for the association. The generic Model Rules for incorporated associations from the Registrar of Societies was also adopted incorporating the objectives of the association as proposed by the task force. The said general meeting also coincided with the first ever elections of official of Umoja Kenya Townsville who were voted in to steer the association for a term of one year (to end of April 2015). The first ever elected office bearers of Umoja Kenya Townsville were:-

 

1. President – Duncan Mwebia

2. Secretary – Kathy Anini

3. Treasurer – George Kinoti

4. Students Representative – Edwin Muchai

5. Member Representing Children’s Interests – Fred Mugambi

6. Member Representing Business/Employment Interests – Sheba Mugambi

 

Being the first ever formally elected executive committee, the team was task with the responsibility of putting into action the objectives of the association as contained in the Model Rules, arranging for regular meeting and social gatherings for members at least once every three months and pave the way for the association to be registered as an incorporate association. The team did its best to carry out its mandate and from the words of President Duncan their main agenda for the year was to help build relationships amongst its members.

 

The second elections of UKT executive committee did not take place until December 2015. The exercise ushered in a new team comprising the following office holders: -

 

1. President – Dominic Owato

2. Secretary – Fridah Mwiti

3. Treasurer – Cris Musumba

4. Students Representative – Collins Odondi

5. Member Representing Children’s Interest – Fred Mugambi

6. Member representing Business/Employment Interest – Miriam Owato

7. IT & Communications Representative – David Munuhe

 

The team came into office with a lot of enthusiasm and a desire to propel the association to greater heights. They set off to set up systems, stream line processes with the objective of getting the association ready for registration. One of the major achievements of this team was managing to finally register UKT on 30th June 2016 thereby becoming an incorporated association. The team managed many firsts including organising a seminar where members were provided with tips on how to write great resumes and job application letters, how to address selection criteria in job applications and effectively prepare for interviews, setting up a website for UKT to further increase our visibility as well as a WhatsApp Chat Group for ease of communication, hosting UKT’s first ever Christmas dinner party, making contact with the dean of students at JCU to seekways of partnering with the institution to address the welfare needs of Kenyan university students in Townsville and partnering with other African community groups in Townsville for mutual benefit. It is worth noting that this team voluntarily offered to extend its term in office by another six months so as to bring the associations year in line with the financial year. The team was also the first to hold an AGM where the associations financial statements were presented to members.

 

The third elected UKT executive committee came into office in August of 2017 comprising the following elected officials: -

 

1. President – Collins Odondi

2. Secretary – Barbara Bennette

3. Treasurer – Cris Musumba

4. Welfare Director – Barnabas Ogeta

5. IT & Communications Director – David Munuhe

6. Projects Director – Dominic Owato.

 

This team continued with the momentum from the previous committee and endeavour to stay on course with maintaining the systems set up and look for improvements where possible. Two great achievements of this team besides keeping the ship steady and on course was organising UKT’s first ever fund-raising initiative through multiple sausage sizzles as well as championing UKT’s Benevolent Fund initiative and coming up with a draft Benevolent Fund Terms & Conditions presented to members for review, discussion and adoption. Though the benevolent fund was not to established during the tenure of this office, the T&C’s developed and discussions/debate that took place became the foundation for the fund and ground work for the next office bearers to pull it off. It was to be a challenging year for this team because they had to carry out their role one committee member less following the resignation of the secretary due to work/study pressures half way through the term. The team managed to bravely soldier own and deliver their mandate.

 

The fourth duly elected UKT executive committee took office in August 2018 with following taking up roles: -

 

1. President – Sheba Mugambi

2. Secretary – Joan Githinji

3. Treasurer – Barnabas Ogeta

4. Welfare Director – Davis Munene

5. IT & Communications Director – Francis Muigai

6. Projects Director – Barbara Bennett

 

Sheba Mugambi became the first female to be elected president of UKT. The team’s moto as put forth by the President Sheba upon being elected was to listen to members. The team carried out it mandate well carrying on the good legacy left by the preceding office. The team was to further promote UKT’s sausage sizzle fund raising initiatives by locking down a spot at the lucrative Bunnings Warehouse besides continuing with the one at Woolworths Supermarket at the Avenues. The team ensured the tradition of UKT having get together meetings/gathering every quarter continued as well as the traditional Christmas party.

 

The current UKT Executive Committee is the fifth one to be elected a testament to the fact that the associations history is still in the making. What began as an amorphous group of Kenyans living in and around Townsville has morphed into a stable incorporated association with a sizeable number of paid up members, established structure and processes and some little funds in its coffers. The current office bearers took office on 17 August 2019 with officer bearers being: -

 

1. President – Davis Munene

2. Secretary – Miriam Owato

3. Treasurer – Geoffrey Langat

4. Welfare Director – Dominic Owato

5. IT & Communications Director –Melvin Macharia

6. Projects Director – Joseph Kemei

7. Students Representative – Douglas Muthamia

 

The team hit the ground running. Having been in the office for hardly a month they have already communicated to members their statement of intent, an indication that they mean business and want to be held accountable by members. Within their first month of being in office the team has already hosted all university students in Townsville to a reception so they could get to meet, greet and understand the challenges faced and needs of student with a view to position the association to adequately address/cater for those challenges/needs. The UKT website is earmarked for a major overhaul, rebranding and content creation so as to attract traffic. The UKT Benevolent fund is up and running and membership continues to grow. The current committee’s first members gathering/meeting will be a spectacular family day with emphasis shifting on entertaining all members across the board and incorporating activities for all segment of UKT members. The sky is the limit it would seem. Let us keep writing this history…….