Celebration of Joy as Kenya's Hulda Momanyi wins seat in USA

BY Beavon Nyakundi 

There was celebration of joy and dance for the second day  running at  Nyamemiso village in Magombo Ward, Nyamira County as the area residents took to the streets to celebrate one of their own Hulda Momanyi Hiltsley who  won a position in the Minnesota House of Representatives in the United States of America(USA).

Hulda the first Kisii won the district 38A seat under the Democratic Party banner ticket , becoming the first Kenyan-born immigrant elected to any state legislature in the United States.  

The residents who carried twigs of branches in their numbers as they danced and  sang traditional songs  said “We are celebrating the win of our daughter, Hulda who has raised the name of our village and community globally. We are extremely happy because of her victory,” her aunt Stella Mogaka told Rural Times .

Family members and relatives who were led by her uncle Clement Momanyi heaped a lot of praise on  her  exuding  confidence in their kin’s ability to lead and bring about change, adding  that she has had  demonstrate  that the Kisii community can also produce political giants outside their home area and country .  

“She has  done us proud and  philanthropic work in our locality. She has been distributing sanitary towels, beans and rice to nearby schools and children and parents from around here recognize her work,” said Mr Momanyi.

Her uncle revealed that Hulda was named after their grandmother and has since become of good model and  character of good standing  just like  her grandmother .

It was her parents, Philip and Tabitha Momanyi who first relocated to the United States in 1989 before she joined them there when she was only nine years old.

Before her  relocation to America , Hulda attended hers  classes one , two, and three  at Nyambaria Primary School in the area, her uncle revealed. 

“She has been making trips to Kenya and shared her vision with us here at home. We are aware that she was number two in her first attempt. We are thankful that God has done it this time around,” said her cousin Regina Momanyi.

Some of the primary schools that have benefited from Hulda’s philanthropy are Kiogoro, Nyamwanga and Bomwendo all near her home.

Hulda was born in 1985 and has been married to Bart Hiltsey for the past 10 years. She has a master's degree from Bethel University in Minnesota, and three bachelor’s degrees from the same institution on international business, international relations and reconciliation studies.

Hulda in her  victory speech, thanked  her parents, saying that they have been  behind her success  and motivation in whatever she did throughout her life “Our journey to this country shaped my identity and progress. My parents sacrificed so much to give us the opportunity to realise our dreams. It is their journey that has led me to this moment,” she said.

The victory, she said, is “a testament that when we people from different diverse backgrounds come together, magic happens”.

She has even promised to go  for bigger positions come another general election