He didn’t want to be remembered as the guy who got wrongfully charged and later acquitted for murder. He wanted a brighter story for himself.
Growing up in Peckham, Kenny was exposed to drugs and violence on the daily. But Kenny didn’t want this to define his circumstances. Instead, he wanted to understand the difficulties faced by Britain’s marginalised communities and how to overcome them. He wanted to alleviate himself and others from this life. Channelling all of his energy into school and getting work experience, Kenny showed potential.
But, as he was getting ready to go to university, at age 18, Kenny was sent to prison on accounts of murder. Innocently charged based on circumstantial evidence. Kenny couldn’t believe it, and the injustice was crippling. He hadn’t even finished his A-levels. But Kenny was determined to finish what he’d started. Even if everyone around him thought it was a waste of time. Even if he would stay in prison for another 30 years. But finishing his A-levels became crucial for his spirit. He stayed hopeful because he knew he had potential. And upon finishing, he got acquitted.
With his prison A-levels, Kenny wrote a report called ‘The Kenny Report’, looking at how politics and economics have a part to play in gang-related violence in the marginalised communities, and receiving attention by big political names. He was offered a scholarship to study law, and produced numerous reports, of which the third report was the largest youth led research project in the UK.
Kenny took control and created a new narrative for himself. He rewrote his story. Kenny is no longer the guy who was wrongfully arrested. He is a social entrepreneur. A campaigner. A community advocate. Co-founder and Managing Director of ClearView Research. In this life, you can be whoever you want to be. Kenny lived a life of no excuses. Surrounded by a lot of people investing and believing in him, Kenny always wanted to outdo himself. He wanted more for himself.
His message: “When writing the story of your life, make sure you’re holding the pen.”
