Kendal Museum Secures £100,000 Grant for Kenya Heritage Project
A new partnership project aims to reconnect communities in Cumbria and Kenya through shared history and museum collections.
By Megan Worthington
••4 min read
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Generic image of a museum facade and a community scene.
Kendal Museum has secured a £100,000 grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Communities & Collections Fund for a two-year project fostering connections with the Nandi community of western Kenya.
The project, titled "From Kenya to Kendal and back again: reconnecting communities through Kendal Museum's natural and social history collection", will be delivered by the Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) and the Nandi-Kendal Association, in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council. It aims to bring together communities in Cumbria and Kenya to research and interpret collections linked to their intertwined histories.
The initiative stems from research by Dr Joe Rigby, a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Chester, who identified connections between objects in Kendal Museum's collection and the Nandi people. These objects were part of a collection funded by Colonel Edgar Garston Harrison, a British Army officer who served in Kenya and later funded an extension to the museum.
Dr Rigby, who grew up in Kendal, stated his research uncovered links between Harrison's collection and an ongoing campaign for reparations by the Nandi community. He is now collaborating with Kendal Museum and Nandi community members to retell the collection's story and explore the shared history.
The project will offer opportunities for local communities and members of the Nandi community to work with Kendal Museum to explore the stories behind the collections and influence their future presentation.
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"Nandi and Kendal could be miles apart but share common historical ties, not just from the colonial days when we shared the Union Jack as our flag, a common educational and examination system during Kenya's formative years and the use of English as official language with a strong Anglican Church tradition. Now we are members of the Commonwealth Nations, with a shared interest in agriculture and food production, sports, tourism, environmental conservation and climate change. Our diverse cultures, academia, museums, and pursuit of economic development could be interesting areas of co-operation between Nandi and Westmorland and Furness."
Noah Biamah, Chairman of the Nandi-Kendal Association in Kenya, welcomed the project, highlighting shared historical ties and potential areas for co-operation.
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"For the best part of a century Harrison’s ‘hunting trophies’ have been on display to the people of Kendal, but without mention of Harrison’s actions against the Nandi. After the operation led by Harrison, the Nandi were pushed out of their homelands and suffered great loss and pain. Now we are working together to retell the story of Harrison’s collection, and to further understanding of Kendal and Nandi’s connected histories."
Kinyango Seroney, a member of the Nandi community in Coventry, added that the project aims to retell the story of Harrison's collection, acknowledging past actions against the Nandi and fostering understanding of the connected histories.
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"This is an exciting opportunity to uncover and share an important story that has largely remained hidden within Kendal Museum's collections. The project is about bringing people together to explore history, build new relationships and ensure that a wider range of voices help shape how our collections are understood and interpreted. By working in partnership with the Nandi community and our project partners, we can develop a deeper understanding of our shared heritage while helping Kendal Museum continue to evolve as an inclusive and relevant cultural resource for future generations."
Councillor Helen Chaffey, Cabinet Member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communications at Westmorland and Furness Council, described the project as an exciting opportunity to share a hidden story, bring people together, and ensure diverse voices shape the interpretation of collections.
The project is designed to encourage conversation, research, and relationship-building, informing future decisions about collections. It also aims to support cultural exchange opportunities, with ideas such as a Cumbrian fell race attended by members of the Nandi community being considered.
Westmorland and Furness Council will act as the accountable body for the £100,000 grant, with minimal financial contribution from the council itself beyond officer time. Ethical collections practice and community involvement in decision-making are central themes.
