Kenyan Activist Wanjiru Muhia Enters Race for Marburg Migrants’ Council

Kenyan civic educator and community organiser Wanjiru Muhia has announced her candidacy for the Ausländerbeirat (Foreigners’ Advisory Council) in Marburg in the 2026 Hessian municipal elections.

Muhia moved to Germany as an au pair in Düsseldorf. The experience led her to pursue further education and civic engagement. She completed an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and later earned a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. She now works in civic education, encouraging people from diverse backgrounds to participate in democratic processes.

Her interest in public life is shaped by concerns about social issues, particularly those affecting young people and marginalised communities. Muhia has said that public discussions about Sub-Saharan Africa are often limited, while many people in Kenya hold overly positive views of life in Europe. 

She draws on the ideas of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who has written about “the danger of a single story”, to emphasise the importance of broader representation and perspective.

If elected, Muhia says she would work to strengthen the representation of migrant communities in local decision-making. She has placed particular emphasis on the participation of the Black diaspora. According to Muhia, involvement in public institutions allows a wider range of experiences to be reflected in policy discussions.

She has also encouraged migrants to take part in civic life through avenues such as parents’ councils, community organisations, and public forums. In her view, participation demonstrates that migrants can contribute to public decision-making and that their perspectives are relevant to local governance.

Muhia’s candidacy has been highlighted by the Kenya Diaspora Alliance (K-DAG) e.V. as part of its Diaspora Leadership Spotlight initiative. The programme recognises Kenyans who are contributing to civic and political life outside the country.