Israel Somen (Hebrew: ישראל סומן; 1903 – 9 October 1984), also known as Issy Somen, was a Jewish Kenyan politician businessman and diplomat. He was a one-time Mayor of Nairobi [1] [2] [3] and later Israel's Honorary Consul to Kenya. [4]

Besides Block, other Kenyan Jews who “made good” include Israel Somen, a one-time congregation president who served as Mayor of Nairobi in 1955-57; S.S. Abraham who was appointed Attorney-General...

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.

Meanwhile his younger brother Israel Somen, who had been put into an orphanage from which he escaped at age 16, pitched up, and found a job with the Railways. The other 2 sisters, Liebe Somen and Anne Somen, made their way up to Kenya, too, as did their brother Morris.

ישראל סומן (באנגלית: Israel Somen;‏ 1903 – 9 באוקטובר 1984), הידוע גם בשם איסי סומן, היה איש עסקים ודיפלומט יהודי-קנייתי. הוא היה ראש עיריית ניירובי ומאוחר יותר קונסול הכבוד של ישראל בקניה.

Sep 23, 2024 · Israel Somen (1903 – 9 October 1984), also known as Issy Somen, was a Jewish Kenyan politician, businessman, and diplomat. He served as Mayor of Nairobi in 1955 and later as Israel's Honorary Consul to Kenya. Somen played a pivotal role in fostering positive relations between Kenya and Israel, both before and after Kenya's independence.

Israel Somen (1903 – 9 October 1984), also known as Issy Somen, was a Jewish Kenyan politician businessman and diplomat. He was a one time Mayor of Nairobi and later Israel's Honorary Consul to 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.

Israel Somen was born in 1903 to a Jewish family from South Africa. His parents died while he was still in school, and by age twelve Somen was working full time. In 1926, he found work with the East African Railway and had the opportunity to travel the world. Based in the small Jewish community in Nairobi, Somen married his wife in 1931. He describes the influx of Jewish immigrants to Kenya ...

Jews first settled in East Africa in the early 20th century with a few families establishing a home in Nairobi. Their numbers had grown to 20 families by 1913 when the first synagogue was erected. In 1955, the President of the Board of Kenya Jewry, Israel Somen, became Nairobi's Mayor.