Kenny Imafidon
{{short description|British author and journalist}}
Kenny Imafidon {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 1993) is an author, journalist and the co-founder of research company Clearview Research.{{Cite web |title=Our Expertise |url=https://www.clearviewresearch.co.uk/expertise |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=www.clearviewresearch.co.uk}} Clearview specialises in projects focusing on diverse and under represented communities. In 2015, he was described by Huffington Post UK as a "young rising star making waves in UK politics".{{Cite web |date=2015-09-25 |title=Who Says Young People Are Apathetic About Politics? Meet The Rising Stars |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/25/rising-stars-politics_n_8175656.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Kenny Imafidon {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/kenny-imafidon |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
Early life
Imafidon was born in Peckham, South London in 1993 of Nigerian heritage and brought up with his brother George by his mother. He did well at school but admits to making money from dealing cannabis, saying “The weed was high quality, which meant demand was also high. Before long, my phone was ringing nonstop. There was no time to eat, barely time to sleep… My customer service was flawless, I prided myself on it, in fact.”{{Cite news |last=Segalov |first=Michael |date=2023-06-25 |title='No case to answer': the Londoner arrested for murder on the injustice that shaped his life |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/25/my-world-was-at-stake-kenny-imafidon-on-the-injustice-that-shaped-his-life |access-date=2023-07-08 |issn=0029-7712}}
Criminal charges and acquittal
In 2011, Imafidon was arrested and charged with one count of murder, two of both attempted murder and grievous bodily harm, and possession of a firearm and an offensive weapon.{{Cite news |last=Segalov |first=Michael |date=2023-06-25 |title='No case to answer': the Londoner arrested for murder on the injustice that shaped his life |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/25/my-world-was-at-stake-kenny-imafidon-on-the-injustice-that-shaped-his-life |access-date=2023-07-06 |issn=0029-7712}} There was no evidence of any direct involvement, but he was charged under joint enterprise laws, in effect guilty by association with other suspects. He was denied bail and spent six months in jail before a judge freed him determining that there was no case to answer.{{Cite news |title=Murder acquittal 'changed my life' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-21760835 |access-date=2023-07-07}}{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Danielle |date=2017-12-15 |title=Meet an inspirational young Londoner trying to turn things around for the city's youth |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/news/meet-an-inspirational-young-londoner-trying-to-turn-things-around-for-the-citys-youth-121517 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Time Out London |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Mirror.co.uk |date=2011-12-12 |title=Teen gang member jailed for life for murdering promising young athlete |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teen-gang-member-jailed-for-life-281387 |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=mirror |language=en}}
Imafidon completed his A Levels whilst on remand in Feltham Prison, becoming the first person in the UK to sit and pass the exams in these circumstances.{{Cite web |date=2015-09-23 |title=An Unlikely Career In Politics: What It Taught Me |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/kenny-imafidon/youth-politics_b_8144334.html |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Noor |first=Poppy |date=2016-08-18 |title=If You're Working Class, University Can Still Change Your Life |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/not-going-to-university-is-a-middle-class-debate/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Vice |language=en}}
Career
Between 2011 and 2012, Imafidon found intern positions and gradually built up contacts. He won the Amos Bursary to study law at BPP University.{{Cite web |title=Kenny Imafidon #changingthenarrative |url=https://www.amosbursary.org.uk/kenny-imafidon-changingthenarrative/ |access-date=6 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619093045/https://www.amosbursary.org.uk/kenny-imafidon-changingthenarrative/ |archive-date=19 June 2024|website=The Amos Bursary |language=en-GB}}
In 2014, Imafidon was awarded the number one position of Rare Rising Stars.{{Cite web |title=Rare Rising Stars 2014 |url=https://www.rarerecruitment.co.uk/rrs2014/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.rarerecruitment.co.uk}}
He established his career by co-founding Clearview Research in 2018{{Cite web |title=CLEARVIEW RESEARCH LTD filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09587075/filing-history?page=2 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}} and has worked with companies like Uber, Tinder and Deliveroo, on voter registration campaigns for young people in UK elections.{{Cite web |title=Case Studies / ClearView Research |url=https://www.clearviewresearch.co.uk/casestudies |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.clearviewresearch.co.uk}} He has written about this for The Guardian.{{Cite news |last=Imafidon |first=Kenny |date=2017-05-22 |title=If we young people vote, British politics can be transformed |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/22/young-people-vote-british-politics-parties |access-date=2023-07-08 |issn=0261-3077}}
Imafidon is a trustee of various charities such as BBC Children in Need{{Cite web |title=Trustees |url=https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/about-us/trustees/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=BBC Children in Need |language=en-US}} (he undertook a review on racism for them{{Cite web |last=Spierson |first=Pete |date=2020-07-14 |title=Kenny Imafidon on BBC Children in Need's new fund to support young Black talent |url=https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/2020/07/kenny-imafidon-on-bbc-children-in-needs-new-fund-to-support-young-black-talent/ |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=BBC Children in Need |language=en-US}}), Strength Within in Me Foundation (S.W.I.M),{{Cite web |title=STRENGTH WITH IN ME FOUNDATION - Charity 1165152 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5071779/full-print |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}} Spark Inside, and City Gateway, where he is currently the chair of the board of trustees.{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://www.citygateway.org.uk/our-team/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=City Gateway |language=en-GB}}
He led on the £1 million Skill Up Step Up campaign, with funding from Barclays LifeSkills,{{Cite web |date=2021-12-22 |title='It is my duty to give back,' says entrepreneur whose life was transformed mentors |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/city-gateaway-jobs-young-people-b1978096.html |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=The Independent |language=en}} funding to City Gateway and other charities to support unemployed young Londoners towards sustainable jobs or apprenticeships.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Anna |date=2021-12-17 |title=Become a giant and hire struggling young people |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/skill-up-step-up/skill-up-step-up-campaign-jobless-london-kenny-imafidon-b972574.html |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}
In 2021, a six-way bidding war took place amongst publishers seeking to publish Imafidon's memoir.{{Cite web |last=Hackett |first=Tamsin |date=15 July 2021 |title=Transworld wins six-way auction for Imafidon's 'personal manifesto' |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/transworld-triumphs-six-way-auction-imafidons-personal-manifesto-1271993 |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}} Imafidon was represented by The Good Literary Agency and signed with Transworld. The memoir, That Peckham Boy, were published by Penguin in 2023.{{Cite book |last=Imafidon |first=Kenny |title=That Peckham Boy |publisher=Penguin |year=2023 |isbn=978-1911709190}} Bear Grylls said "Kenny's story shows us that we all have the potential to achieve extraordinary things. What a hero."{{Cite book |last=Imafidon |first=Kenny |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/447708/that-peckham-boy-by-imafidon-kenny/9781911709190 |title=That Peckham Boy |date=2023-07-13 |language=en}}