Kenyan-Born Huldah Momanyi Wins Seat In United States Elections

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Huldah Momanyi, running under the Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Party, has made history as the first Kenyan-born politician to hold office in the United States of America.

She won the Minnesota State House seat for District 38A with 64.78 percent of the vote, defeating her opponent, Wynfred Russell, in the Democratic primary, where she secured 51.28 percent of the vote. District 38A includes the southwestern parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo.

District 38A is a notably diverse area, with about 66 percent of residents identifying as people of colour, a large portion of whom are African immigrants.

Her win for the seat represents a significant milestone in the growing representation of African immigrants in American politics.

Momanyi’s vision for the Minnesota State Senate centres on key issues such as safety, equitable housing, and accessible healthcare.

She looks to champion a realistic approach to policy-making that goes beyond political rhetoric.

Earlier on, speaking to the media about the challenges she has faced while vying for the seat, Momanyi revealed that being an immigrant and a woman of colour made her campaign a challenge.

“There’s the two-edged sword where my skills, experience, education everything is looked up from a perspective of what do I know are you even qualified,” she revealed.

In the Democratic primary, she secured victory with 51.28 percent of the vote, edging out fellow candidate Wynfred Russell.

Being a mother of two, Momanyi brings personal insight into the challenges faced by working families, particularly regarding affordable childcare.

Momanyi was born in Nyamira County in 1985 to Philip and Tabitha Momanyi.

They moved to the US nine years later. She obtained a Master’s degree from Bethel University, Minnesota.

Momanyi attained a Master’s degree from Bethel University, Minnesota.