Away from the heavily contested race to the White House between the US President Donald Trump and his challenger Joe Biden, three Kenya-born Americans contested in the election for various seats.
It is worth noting that the only African American to be elected as the United Staes President is Barack Obama who traces his roots to Kenya.
Official estimates put the number of Kenyans leaving in the US at 130,000.
The figure is however disputed with some claiming that at least 300,00 Kenyans stay in the US.
Most of these Kenyans have become naturalized American citizens and have secured well-paying jobs or manage successful enterprises.
It is therefore natural that there was a chance for those Kenyans to engage in the electoral contests.
The Kenyans who participated in the Tuesday elections might in the contest but their participation showed the population of Kenyans and their involvement in the affairs of the world’s most powerful nation.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, Henry Momanyi runs for a seat in Brooklyn Park City COuncil but he lost the contest to incumbent Susan Pha.
Momanyi was hoping to be a representative of the West District as an independent candidate.
During the nomination, the Kenya born American barely made it to the election as he squeaked past Yelena Kurdyumova by just three votes.
Mr. Momanyi, a community organizer and nonprofit executive had campaigned on a platform of improving housing, public safety, and education.
Council seat
Another Kenya born in Minnesota who contested in the elections is Janet Kitui who vied for a council seat in the City of Edina.
During her campaigns, Kitui her top agenda was affordable housing. She also wanted to use her voice to help secure Edina’s development plans which included the single housing units.
“Now is the time for us to engage in meaningful system changes. We have to commit to adding affordable housing, sustainable growth, and improved racial equity in our city,” she says on her website.
“Improving racial equity can’t wait. Now is the time for action! Increasing availability of affordable housing and providing high-quality education go hand-in-hand to improve racial equity and social justice,” she says.
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Within the same city Ukasha Dakane, an entrepreneur and community organizer also vied for a seat in the city council.
Dakane who is also Kenya-born was among seven candidates who had been cleared for the seat, 11 of them were of African descent.
In the city of Edina, Dakane currently runs a nonprofit organization that helps immigrants like him to secure employment.
