Kenyan Community Rallies Behind Tan Dhesi in Upcoming Slough Election

The Kenyan community in Slough has expressed strong support for Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, known as Tan Dhesi, in the upcoming July 4th elections.

The endorsement was made during the Euro Mega Praise and Worship event at Ditton Park Academy on June 22 which attracted over 20 gospel ministers and numerous residents. Dhesi has represented Slough for the past seven years and has been actively promoting his contributions to the community through social media. He emphasized his dedication, highlighting his team’s resolution of 5,771 individual cases, including 146 urgent ones, for constituents in need of assistance this year alone. The event, affectionately termed “Gichocho” by Kenyans in the diaspora, featured the Deputy High Commissioner in London Dr Bishop Joseph Warui as the keynote speaker.

Warui’s journey from clergy to diplomacy, marked by his recent appointment by President William Ruto, has been remarkable. As a member of the Global Alliance of Churches Association (GACA) Europe, Warui’s diverse background and willingness to assist have been invaluable to the community. Resident John Kaniaru praised Dhesi’s parliamentary achievements, citing an instance where Dhesi intervened with the Home Office to prevent a Kenyan individual’s deportation and secure a family reunion visa. The Kenyan community in Slough expressed appreciation for Dhesi’s advocacy of humane migration policies and his role as a liaison with the Home Office.

The community presented Dhesi with a list of priorities, including the construction of a community hall, support for registering Kenyan businesses with the local council, and job creation for youth. In response, Dhesi pledged to facilitate opportunities for Kenyan citizens to gain practical experience through attachments and internships at Slough-based companies. The political landscape in Slough is competitive, with candidates from various parties vying for the seat. Dhesi, the incumbent MP, has held several influential positions and made history as the first turban-wearing MP in the UK. Recent polls indicate Dhesi leads the race with 65.06% support, with Robin Jackson from Reform UK as his closest challenger.

Resident Isaac Ngatia commended Dhesi’s active involvement in community matters, praising his attendance at local events and his attentiveness to people’s concerns. The community also had the opportunity to hear from Deputy Ambassador Warui who holds dual roles as bishop and diplomat. Warui made several commitments to the community, including providing UK-based gospel singers with recording studio facilities and opening up government funding opportunities for Kenyan enterprises in the UK. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Equity Bank and Cooperative Banks to facilitate mortgage and property acquisition for Kenyans in the UK, as well as plans to enable remote participation in court proceedings.

The Deputy High Commissioner reassured the Kenyan community of the accessibility of the Kenyan High Commission in London, encouraging them to seek assistance when needed.