Somen, Israel

views updated

SOMEN, ISRAEL

SOMEN, ISRAEL (1903–1984), public figure in Kenya. Born in London, Somen was taken to South Africa when he was a child, and in 1923 went to Kenya where he joined the colonial service. Somen was mayor of Nairobi from 1955 to 1957 and honorary consul for Israel before Kenya's independence. He was also president of the Nairobi Hebrew congregation.