Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley, the first Kenyan-born candidate to win a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, is set to return home for thanksgiving service and a series of other activities.
Ms Momanyi will be in Kenya for eight days before she returns to the US to prepare for her swearing-in slated for January next year.
She rewrote history during the recent US elections after clinching the Minnesota House of Representatives seat for District 38A.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Monday, Ms Momanyi said she would land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 11 am.
Upon her arrival, she is expected to grace a function at Daystar University where she will give a keynote address at a gathering convened to discuss issues of gender-based violence.
The mother of two said that she would hold other interactive sessions, aimed at inspiring Kenyans.
The legislator also disclosed that she had received a formal invitation to join other leaders in celebrating this year’s Jamhuri Day at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Thursday.
After the Jamhuri celebrations, which will mark Kenya’s 60 years after independence, Ms Momanyi will travel to her rural home in Nyamira County, where her thanksgiving ceremony is planned to take place.
The event, which is reported to have been organised in conjunction with the county government of Nyamira, will be held at Nyambaria High School on Friday.
Speaking on her homecoming, Ms Momanyi said she was humbled by the love she had been shown by Kenyans after she defeated Republican’s Brad Olson to the seat. She captured the seat on a Democratic-Farmer-Labour party ticket.
“My homecoming has been inspired by our people in Kenya. I looked at the overwhelming support, love and congratulatory messages that I received. Many people asked me to come so that they could see me and I obliged to their requests,” she said, adding that she will be accompanied by her husband Bart Hiltsley during the visit.
Ms Momanyi said her victory had rekindled fond memories and excitement that was last witnessed in the country when Barack Obama was elected as the 44th US President in 2008.
After the thanksgiving ceremony, Ms Momanyi said she will meet key individuals to explore ways into which her victory can benefit the country.
“In between my schedule, I have some strategic meetings to talk about what my win means from an economic and cultural sell point as well as in terms of partnerships,” she said.
The legislator expressed concerns with the increased cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country. She asserted that the matter requires support from all quarters in order to reduce or completely end the vice.
She said she will champion for the rights of girls and women who, according to her, are the major victims of GBV by involving all stakeholders.
“I want to champion all of these different groups across the entire country (Kenya) to bring awareness to this critical issue for I am a strong believer in protecting human dignity,” Ms Momanyi said.
Ms Momanyi moved to the US when she was 9 years old. Together with her parents, she has lived in the US for more than 20 years, residing in Minnesota and Brooklyn.
