At just 20 years old, Cylcia Manwa a Kenyan Gen Z is already making waves in the world of politics in London.
The Kenyan-British woman made history in 2023 when she became London’s youngest elected councilor, representing the East London ward of Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park.
In an interview with KTN Manwa revealed that her journey into politics began at a young age, as she recalled engaging in passionate debates with her parents on various issues.
“I’d always been quite an opinionated person, I’d always have debates with my parents as well as other adults and a lot of them would be thinking like this girl is like 13, 14 years old how is she debating on this sort of issues, why is she even interested?” she said.
Cylcia Reveals What Pushed Her to Vie for the Seat
Cylcia Manwa’s path to becoming London’s youngest elected councilor began with a simple suggestion from the previous office holder.
“The lady who held my seat previously she lost the seat, but she’d had it for 12 years and she was like I want to step back from politics she just suggested it like quite you know the brush of the hand why you don’t run,” Manwa recounted.
The outgoing councilor’s casual encouragement was all it took to inspire the 19-year-old Manwa to pursue the seat that many of her age mates would otherwise never have stood a chance.
Despite the odds, Manwa decided to take on the challenge, which saw her run for office in May 2023.
She faced off against two tough opponents but emerged victorious, winning the seat by a mere 35 votes.
Her determination and passion for politics propelled her to make history as the youngest person ever to be elected to the London council.
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Cylcia Manwa Moderates Youth Discussions at the Commonwealth
Her success did not go unnoticed, as she was invited to act as a moderator at a crucial youth led meeting at the Commonwealth Secretariat head office in London.
The meeting focused on discussing the ongoing political unrest in witnessed in Kenya, brought about by the contentious finance bill.
In the interview Manwa said that she hopes her active engagement in such youth led forums will motivate Kenyan youth back home to take their place at the round table of the country’s political future.
“I look forward to working with the Commonwealth to facilitate meaningful and open dialogue on the issue of the Finance Bill and the importance of young people at the forefront of this historic movement,” she said.
Manwa’s passion for politics extends beyond her role as a counselor.
She is currently an undergraduate student at the London School of Economics, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in politics and international Relations.
Balancing her studies with her political responsibilities is no easy feat, but Manwa is determined to make a difference.
Commonwealth Assistant SG Praises Manwa
Professor Luis Franceschi, the Assistant Secretary General for the Commonwealth Secretariat, sees Manwa as more than just a young leader.
He believes that young people like Manwa can; by taking up leadership positions adequately address issues affecting both the young and old.
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“Young people are not as we say, sometimes when people tell me this generation is useless, they don’t want to be involved I say no wait a minute,”
“Here you have a person who is very young in her 20s is fully involved, is living with problems that affect the Young and the old and is able to communicate them.” said Louis.
Manwa’s success serves as an inspiration to young people around the world, proving that age is no barrier to making a difference in the political landscape.
Additionally, her determination and success have paved the way for a new generation of leaders to emerge and shape the future of the UK.
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