Kenyan Community Leader Kwame Otiende Wins London Council Seat in Hackney
Kwame Otiende, a Kenyan-born community organiser, has been elected to Hackney Council after winning a seat in London Fields for the Green Party in the 7 May 2026 local elections.
Otiende received 1,756 votes and was elected alongside Brenda Puech, who secured 1,872 votes. The pair won two of the three council seats available in the ward. Their victory followed an electoral partnership between the Hackney Green Party and the Hackney Independent Socialists, an uncommon arrangement in British local politics.
Originally from Nairobi, Otiende has lived in London for more than 20 years. He has built his public profile through community and cultural projects rather than through traditional party politics. His work has focused on social welfare, cultural inclusion, and local organising.
Otiende is also known as a co-founder of The Jago, a music venue on Kingsland Road that reopened in 2019. The venue hosts open mic nights, performances, and community events linked to Hackney’s diverse communities. Its design incorporates influences from African, Jewish, and South Asian cultures.
The result marks a significant change in London Fields, where Labour narrowly retained control in a 2024 by-election by 309 votes. The Green Party also made gains in Dalston, De Beauvoir, Shacklewell, Haggerston, King’s Park, and Hackney Central.
The party’s success across the borough led to the election of Zoë Garbett as Hackney’s new mayor, weakening Labour’s long-standing dominance in the area.
Supporters of Otiende say his election reflects years of direct work with local residents. He is expected to focus on social welfare, inequality, and cultural inclusion during his time on the council.
