Pomp and color as Kenyans usher in Nairobi - Lowell Sisterhood

Kenyans cheer as Lowell mayor, Bud Caulfield, displays a large poster to be delivered to the mayor of Nairobi, Kenya, as a gift during the Kenyatta day -cum Nairobi- Lowell sister city celebrations last sunday at the city Hall in Lowell, Mass. . Pic by Nguyaii wa-Mbarii/Ajabu

AjabuAfrica.com
Story by Harrison Maina
Pictures by Nguyaii wa-Mbarii and Harrison Maina

LOWELL, Mass. OCTOBER 22- Hundreds of Kenyans and friends thronged the rotunda of Lowell city hall Sunday afternoon to witness and celebrate the birth of a new bond between the cities of Nairobi and Lowell as a mix of very rare october snow mixed with heavy down-pour that relentlessly pounded outside led many Kenyans to believe that this was truly their ordained day in this city.

 Lowell mayor, Bud Caulfield, accompanied by deputy mayor, Rita Mercier and other city officials joined the celebrants while Pastor Najeem of the CCF church in Lowell presided over ceremony as the mcee.

Pastor Najeem is an immigrant from Lebanon, who is well known in the Kenyan community in Lowell and has been to Kenya on church mission.

Many Kenyan pastors from Lowell mobilized their flock for the event as other Kenyans and friends from many cities including Springfield, Worcester, Brockton, Nashua and many other locations in New England popped out in color and style to witness the historic ceremony.

Lowell mayor, Bud Caulfield ,addresses Kenyans during the Kenyatta day cum Nairobi-Lowell Sister city celebrations. Looking on is deputy mayor, Rita Mercier, and Pastor Rafu Najim of CCF church. pic : Nguyaii wa-Mbarii/Ajabu

Trademark ululations by Kenyan women rent the air frequently amid thunderous clapping as various speakers extolled the benefits of the recognition that the growing population of Kenyans are getting from this fourth largest city in Massachusetts.

A live band from Kenya entertained guests with nostalgic Kenyan patriotic songs like Kenya ni nchi yetu (Kenya is our country), Jambo Bwana (Hallo sir) while DJ Humble Skillz, a local DJ from Worcester made guests shake their bodies at an upstairs hall put together quickly for exhibitors and entertainment after the heavy rain thwarted plans for any outdoors action.

A traditional choir from Saint Stephens’s church in Lowell presented a kikuyu folk song while a children’s choir from Saint Michaels Catholic Church in Lowell also performed.

Unlimited, another gospel group comprised of teenage Kenyans from the city of Lowell also staged a fantastic performance.

Beaming with nationalistic pride, many Kenyans donned Kenyan clothes in national colors of red, green, black and white.

One woman was spotted in an impressive Kikuyu traditional dress while Jayne Tinega, an upcoming Kenyan Gospel artist had a beautiful Maasai women traditional dress.  

Addressing Kenyans during the event, Lowell Mayor, Bud Caulfield said that it was a moment of pride for the city of Lowell to officially welcome Kenyans as the newest members of the city that was founded by immigrants.

Kenyan ladies show off cool colors of Kenya.From left to right, a contemporary national colors inspired gear complete with head scarve and wrist band , a traditional Masaai attire and a traditional Kikuyu attire . pic: H.Maina/Ajabu

The mayor beamed with pride as he narrated how the city of Lowell developed from the early 19th century as a small agricultural village known only for plums and cabbages to the fourth largest city in Massachusetts, bustling with life from different immigrant communities from many different countries.

“Many years ago, the city of Lowell was founded by immigrants such as the Irish and the French as a very small agricultural village,” Said Mayor Caulfield. He said the city then grew bigger. He said it was built by the Irish who used to get paid 76 cents a day building the mills and the canals that dot every part of this city.

The mayor said that despite the humble beginning, the city is reach in diversity. He was happy that Kenyans are now part of that diversity and urged them to work harder to improve their lives in Lowell.

“We are happy to say that Kenyans are part of this history. I know you will be professionals even in business. I know you will,” said the mayor emphatically.

He asked Kenyan to feel free to go to the city hall for anything they think authorities could help them in or for important information.

“This is not my city hall. This is your city hall,” declared the mayor causing wild jubilation.

On her part, the deputy mayor for Lowell, council woman Rita Mercier gave a rousing speech. Ms. Mercier, who accompanied the mayor, said that the Kenyan flag raising day was the best she has seen so far.

“We have held many flag raisings right here at the city hall. But I have to say that this Kenyan flag raising ceremony is the best we have had so far,” said the deputy mayor.

Looking totally striking in a beautiful African dress presented to her previously as a gift by the Cameroonian community, council woman Mercier said that the Kenyans have definitely brought something unique into her life.

Bernie Ongewe, one of the founding fathers of the Nairobi- Lowell sister city. Nguyaii wa-Mbarii/Ajabu

She urged Kenyans to feel as part and parcel of the Lowell community and unitize their good values at working hard in every aspect of their lives.

“I may never have the opportunity to go to Kenya but you have brought Kenya to me right here. I can feel the unity, the pride and the love of God in you,” she said causing wild cheering and ululations.

The mayor read an official declaration making Lowell officially a sister city to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya and thanked the people who made the event possible.

“I would like to thank one gentleman who made this whole event to be a reality, and that man is Bill Vassilios,” said mayor Caulfield.

Vasiliis is a renowned Lowell artist who runs an art store on market street in down town Lowell, who together with a few other friends came up with the idea of making the posters as a way to commemorate a Nairobi- Lowell sister city  relationship.

Citing reports coming to him, the mayor praised Kenyans students at Lowell high school as extremely well mannered, bright and hard working.

“I also love the Kenyan choir at Saint Michael’s catholic church where I worship. They are great,” said the mayor as the said choir cheered wildly in the background.

He then handed over the declaration to Rita Mercier to present it officially to Bishop David Karaya on behalf of the Kenyan community.

Bishop Karaya is the chairman of the Kenya Pastors fellowship Association in New England.

Lowell Mayor Bud Caulfield, congratulates Bishop David Karaya, after handing over the memorumdum declaring the new sister city relashinship between the cities of Lowell, Mass., USA, and Nairobi, Kenya .To the extreme left is Vasillios Giavis and to the right holding a folder is Bill Thompson, key founders of the sister city relashionship. H.Maina/Ajabu

  Accepting the declaration, Bishop Karaya thanked the mayor and the people of Lowell for the good gesture of having Nairobi and Lowell become sister cities.

He also thanked all the people who put in a lot of hours to prepare for the successful event and hoped that such co-operation would continue into the future.

Various gifts were exchanged by the two cities with an American flag and a poster depicting the popular Lowell folk festival handed over to be sent to the mayor of Nairobi, His worship Donald Majiwa.
 
The mayor of Lowell was also presented with a similar gift, courtesy of Bisl Vassililios

The gift presentation was done by June Odongo, a Kenyan lady from the Lowell area.
Odongo also read a letter ( read it live) from the Mayor of Nairobi, Mayor Geoffrey Majiwa.

In the letter, the Nairobi mayor congratulated Kenyans for the recognition they are getting in USA, which shows that they are doing positive contributions to the society here. He wished Kenyans good luck and said that Nairobi city was happy to be associated with the city of Lowell, hoping that this will open further doors for advancement of culture and trade.

The event started with prayers by Dr. Rev Karimi Mumbui followed by a variety of music presentations and then a speech by one of the founding members of Nairobi Lowell sister city, Bernie Ongewe.

Ongewe thanked all Kenyans who attended the event and said that he felt deeply honored by that.

A long time Kenyan immigrant, Ben Mbugua recounted his life as one of the original Kenyan immigrants to reach the shores of Massachusetts over 30 years ago.

Mbugua said that though life was extremely difficult for a new person from Africa, he never gave up and consequently, he has lived on to see many other Kenyan immigrants settle in Lowell and the surrounding areas as a consequence of his hard work.

Mbugua urged the mayor to consider renaming some of the streets in Lowell by Kenyan names like Amboselli Street, Nairobi Avenue and many more in recognition of the contributions that the Kenyan community has brought for the betterment of the city of Lowell.

June Odongo reads a message from the mayor of Nairobi Kenya. H.Maina/Ajabu

Another leading founder of the new sisterhood, Vasillios Giavis, talked briefly of the history of the American flag, while Stephen Njuguna, the chairman of the Kenya Christian Welfare association, explained to guests the meaning of Kenyan flag.

Vickie Waiyaki, a young Kenyan from Lowell, recited a poem about the Kenyan flag while Lowell mayor, Bud Caulfield  accompanied by a young Kenyan girl, Tabitha Waithira , the American national anthem, and Wilfred Tinega  also of Lowell, led Kenyans to sing their national anthem.

The mayor ordered the Kenyan flag hoisted at the entrance of the city hall next to the American flag.

“The Kenyan flag will stay hoisted there for two weeks, and the 18th October of each year will now be Kenyatta day in the city of Lowell,” declared mayor Caulfield, long known to be a great friend of the African community on Lowell.

Cheering, dancing and ululations promptly followed the historic declarations, as pleased Kenyans exchanged greetings.

Rev. Samuel Kimohu of Saint Stephens’s church moved the vote of thanks shortly before the close of the event and appealed to Kenyans to assist in footing the bill for the community event so that the committee can fully pay for the expenses.

A hat was passed around and the people dipped cash as they heeded the call by the pastor, to hopefully raise enough to pay even for the rented tend pitched outside in case of foul weather but was never used after city officials opened doors of the main hall for the Kenyans to use.

Many Kenyans interviewed by Ajabu Africa.com praised the new developments.

“This is a great thing for Lowell to officially recognize us Kenyans. It feels awesome, said Mike Karumba from Lowell.
 
“It is exciting. Hopefully, we can have more events like this,” said Jeff Kiongera, a young man from Lowell.

The event was a culmination of many months of planning and deliberations by a group of Kenyans and Americans that was occasionally dogged by petty wrangles in the organizing committee that had threatened to scuttle the entire effort.

Stay alert for a separate story coming soon!

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