A community celebration is being held Sunday, Dec. 1 to celebrate the historic election of Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley as the first Kenyan-born state legislator in the United States.
Kenya’s new ambassador to the United States, Amb. David Kerich, will headline the event. Accompanying him will be the embassy’s deputy chief of mission Ambassador Christopher Kirugia.
Hiltsley, a Democrat, won a decisive victory in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 38A to succeed retiring Rep. Mike Nelson. The district encompasses the cities of Brooklyn Park and Osseo. Though this is her first elected position, Hiltsley has volunteered in various campaigns and led the largest Kenyan community organization in the state before entering electoral politics.
“I stand before you tonight with a heart overflowing with gratitude, love, and a deep sense of responsibility,” Hiltsley told supporters on election night Tuesday, Nov. 6. “This journey is only the beginning; the work doesn’t end here.”
Her election has made her a celebrity in Kenya, with a lengthy discussion on the significance of her election taking place on the floor of the Kenyan parliament.
Numbering over 20,000 according to Minnesota Compass, Kenyans are among the “Big Five” of the state’s large African immigrant population that is over 100,000 strong.
The Sunday celebration is scheduled to start with a business networking and fair at 3 p.m., with the formal program running from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the La Fontaine Event Center located at 7533 Sunwood Dr. NW., Ramsey, MN 55303.
Requested donations are $100 for adults and $40 for those aged 20 and under. The dinner event also includes entertainment from renown musicians Mwanakendra, Bandasonn aka Rumba Ambassador and Fanaka Nation. DJs Nodeh and Bigbwoy will be on the decks.
More information is at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdR0xxFrM__GSuwlOTJVbetrSG_teFnLBHyRQd1k2jamJwInA/viewform
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About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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