Was born in Baroda, India.  He was educated at Technical High School and at Kenya Polytechnic Nairobi, Kenya. He then joined the family business of Engineering and Fabrication in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

He married Kailas and they settled in the Belgrave area of Leicester in December 1974, they had one daughter and one son.

 

In 1983 he was a founder member of the Belgrave Resident’s Association and Chairperson of the Belgrave Community Workshops Project in the City of Leicester.

 

He was elected to the Council in 1986 representing Belgrave Ward and then in 1996 representing Latimer Ward. As an elected Councillor for sixteen years, serving on numerous committees his main interest was Planning Development Control.  He also served as a governor at Catherine Infants and Junior Schools.

 

For a number of years Councillor Kavia served as Chair of Overseas Links and International Development and was committed to developing stronger links with Leicester’s Twin Cities. He served as a Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration and strived for Leicester to be an example of a good environment to live in.  He served as Chairman of Leicester Regeneration Agency.

 

The Lord Mayor served as Deputy Lord Mayor in the Mayoral Year 2002/2003.

 

Councillor Kavia had a keen interest in classic motor cars, motor racing. He enjoyed travelling and sampling different cultures.  He was also conversant in Swahili, Gujarati, Hindi, and Punjabi.

 

Councillor Kavia became High Bailiff in the following Civic Year; however he underwent Hospital treatment during that year and sadly died whilst still holding that office