Lilian Seenoi-Barr has made history by becoming Northern Ireland’s first black mayor of Derry city.
Councilor Lilian Seenoi -Bar was installed as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane at a special Council meeting on Monday, June 3, 2024.
Lilian who arrived in Derry 14 years ago as a refugee from Kenya said it was an honor to become first black mayor of Derry city.
During her installation ceremony, Lilian Seenoi-Barr said she came to the city in search of a better life, and that she never imagined that she would hold such a prestigious position.
“If you told me that I would become the first citizen of the second city, I would not have believed you,” she told the chamber.
Pledge to Seve Derry and Strabane
In attendance were family and friends of Ms Seenoi-Barr, a delegation of Kenyan political representatives and members from various ethnic minority groups from across Ireland.
Previously, Lilian Seenoi-Barr was the Councilor for the Foyle Side ward- a position she has held since 2021 when she was co-opted by the Social Democratic and Labour party.
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“I have witnessed the warmth and kindness of the Derry that I know and have loved with all my heart, through the kindness of strangers and the outpouring of solidarity and support,” she acknowledged.
Ms Seenoi-Barr said she was committed to serve entire community with inclusivity and lead the people with hope.
“It is our time to build a more inclusive, prosperous and vibrant Derry City and Strabane District Council, under the banner of unity and progressive change,” she said.
“Thank you for your trust, your time and your support. Together let’s embrace our differences and build a new future together,” she added.
Lilian Seenoi-Barr ‘s Background
Lilian Seenoi-Bar was born in October 1981 in Narok County. She grew up with her five sisters and eight brothers among them being Narok County Senator Ledama Ole Kina.
Lilian attended a village school for her primary school education. At the time, her mother ran a supermarket.
After her secondary education, Lilian enrolled at Moi University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Science.
She also pursued community development and social justice in the university of Ulster in Northern Ireland.
After completing her education, Ms. Seenoi delved into community development and human rights activism.
She co-founded the Maasai Education discovery -brides Rescue project which was aimed at rescuing young girls from early forced marriages and forced genital mutilation (FGM) in the northern part of the country.
However, such initiatives exposed her to risks including threats from members of her community who were opposed to change.
This then forced her to leave the country alongside her son following threats following threats to their safety.
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Lilian Seenoi- Barr first arrived in Northern Ireland as a refugee in 2010, after being invited to Derry by the Changaro Trust, which had helped to build schools in rural Kenya.
The Trust subsequently helped Seenoi-Barr and her son to apply for refugee status.
In 2012, she founded the Northwest Migrants Forum, and became its program me manager. She also helped to organize the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Derry’s Guildhall Square in June 2020.
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