Kenyans in Britain Honour Elizabeth Kang’ethe’s 16 Years in Public Service

Kenyans in the UK have honoured Dr Elizabeth Kang’ethe for 16 years of service in local politics at a celebration attended by community leaders, clergy, politicians and family members.

The event brought together members of the Kenyan community and other well-wishers, including Barking MP Nesil Caliskan, Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission in London, Ambassador Irene Maswan, and Councillor Maureen Worby. Kang’ethe became the first Kenyan to serve as a mayor in the UK, marking a significant milestone in the representation of African communities in British public life. 

During her 16 years in local government, she served as a councillor and later held cabinet responsibility for education and schools. Her work in the education portfolio included policy discussions on schools, youth engagement and family initiatives, which are key areas of local government.

The celebration also provided an opportunity to reflect on Kang’ethe’s career and contribution to public life. A message from Kenya’s Ambassador to Russia, Joseph Warui, was read to guests in recognition of her service.

Family members in Kenya also took part virtually, sending video messages to mark the occasion and add a personal element to the celebrations. Music, food and cultural performances formed part of the evening, reflecting the role of community and culture in Kang’ethe’s political journey.

In her remarks, Kang’ethe described herself as “an open book”, signalling her readiness to begin the next stage of her career with transparency and resilience.