By Antynet Ford
Huldah Hiltsley Momanyi, a U.S.-based Kenyan originally from Nyamira County, has made history by winning a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, becoming the first Kenyan-born politician to hold elected office in the U.S.
Running under the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party, Huldah won with 64.78% of the vote (10,005), defeating Republican candidate Brad Olson, who garnered 34.95%.
Following her victory, Momanyi expressed gratitude to American voters for their trust, promising to be a voice for change.
“It doesn’t feel real.” she told CCX News.
“I don’t think I was expecting to do that well. 65%—that’s a big margin, right? It just goes to show you the work that my team has put into this race.” Huldah said.
“That is history in the making. Not only the first had Kenyan-American in the Minnesota Legislature but the first Kenyan-born person in the entire U.S. elected to office.” She added.
Momanyi will now represent Southwestern Brooklyn Park and Osseo in the Minnesota House.
Born in Nyamira County in 1985, her family moved to the U.S. when she was nine. She earned three Bachelor’s degrees in international business, international relations, and reconciliation studies from Bethel University, where she also completed a Master’s degree in Global Business Management.