Last week, leading up to Christmas, most global media outlets carried a story — datelined December 22 — which reported: “A group of Muslims travelling on an overcrowded bus in North East Kenya took a stand against gun-wielding Islamic extremists, refusing to point out who on their bus were Christians, despite the terrorists threatening to kill them all”.

These unnamed heroes, with their courageous act of solidarity, “walked the talk”, capturing the spirit of the season: “Goodwill to all ...”

Upon reflection of how 28 Christians were killed in a similar incident last year, these travellers’ responses demonstrate something of a shift at the grassroots level in East Africa. They offered an example to global citizens, including us in Bermuda, as we face challenges of polarisation within our societies.

Later that same week, there was a local joint press conference which captured a touch of that spirit exhibited in Kenya. Announcing an event for New Year’s Eve on Court Street, Eugene Dean noted that this was the start of a process to pull the diverse sectors of our society together. Shadow minister Michael Weeks saw the initiative in this broader context, noting that, “It was time to get rid of this idea of two Bermudas”.

The stated aim of those terrorists in Kenya is to maximise division in the country, especially along religious lines. That region of Africa, arguably the original home of the human family, has experienced the tragedy of historic polarisation along various lines. During the Kenyan elections of 2007, divisive campaigning and a variety of circumstances led to substantial violence with 1,500 deaths and half a million people being displaced from their homes.

In congratulating this latest act of heroism on the bus, a senior minister pointed out that the Kenyan Government was working towards unifying their society — a sentiment which was echoed at that joint press conference in Bermuda.

Division among people within societies is a complex phenomenon, often with ancient roots.

There is the temptation by players in countries to take advantage through divisive strategies: Trump calling for banning Muslim access to the US; Sunni extremists targeting Shia Muslims; and some local young people unable to travel to various neighbourhoods in our small island.

Those Kenyans crowded on their bus last week offer us a lesson. They demonstrated that power is an internal matter which has its ultimate leverage in true solidarity, inclusive of people of diverse backgrounds of race, religion, sex and orientation.

The initiative for North Street offers a milestone in this regard for Bermuda. A climate that maximises collaboration across our society will be vital as we address our common challenges. This will leverage our moving forward, beyond any perception of a divided society, for the sake of upcoming generations.

•Glenn Fubler is head of Imagine Bermuda