Kenyan-born American candidate in the US elections, Huldah Hiltsley, has revealed that the major difference between vying in Kenya and the United States of America is the voter approach, where voters are allegedly paid to vote for a particular candidate.
Speaking during an interview with Voice of America’s Abdushakur Aboud, Hulda revealed that although she left Kenya when she was nine, she has been following its politics and has identified some issues that the country should work on.
According to the candidate who is eyeing to clinch the Minnesota House of Representatives, the major difference between Kenya and the US is the voter approach, where Kenyan voters are paid to vote while a candidate in the US must convince the voters to vote for them with their agenda.
“I do pay attention to how Kenyan politics are run. The biggest difference between running in the US and Kenya is how the candidates approach the voters. Kenya, we know how it is, it’s a matter of unfortunately buying votes, and that’s something that Kenya has to work on and address,” Huldah revealed.
Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley is eying the Minnesota, State Senate District 38 seat in the November 8, polls.
Courtesy Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley
“But here in the US is completely the opposite you have to go the voters, where they are, and ask them for their support and that literally means going door to door making sure that you are communicating your message to the Constituency and hoping to earn their votes”, the candidate contrasted.
Running for District 38A (the equivalent of a constituency here) under the Democratic Party banner in the Minnesota State Senate, Hiltsley aims to become the first Kenyan-born immigrant elected to any state legislature in the United States.
Outlining one of the major challenges she has faced while vying for the seat, Huldah has revealed that being an immigrant and a woman of color has made her campaign a challenge.
“There’s the two-edged sword where my skills, experience, education everything is looked up from a perspective of what do I know are you even qualified,” she revealed.
Despite the challenges, Huldah is confident that her strong campaign team has sacrificed enough to propel her to power.
Huldah was born in Nyamira County in 1985 to Mr and Mrs Philip and Tabitha Momanyi. They moved to the US nine years later. She attained a Master’s degree from Bethel University, Minnesota.
If she wins the seat, she will be making history as the first immigrant elected to any state legislature in the United States.
“If elected, I will be the first black woman in the Senate in its 164-year history. “I will be the first African-American, African immigrant, and the first Kenyan-American elected into the Minnesota legislature,” Huldah told The Nation in an interview in April 2022.
If elected, some of her roles would include introducing bills and resolutions, offering amendments, and serving on committees.
Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley during a Black History Month celebration in Minnesota on February 26, 2022.
Courtesy Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley
