He had moved to Geraldton by 1879, working initially as a storekeeper and later as a draper.
Kenny later developed interests in mining (on the Murchison goldfields), but came to the attention of the public as the manager of the Geraldton Express, the major newspaper in the region.
He eventually became its chief proprietor.
Kenny was elected to parliament at the 1897 general election, winning the newly created seat of North Murchison.
However, his time in parliament was short-lived, as he died from stomach cancer in August 1899 (aged only 46).