Name: Marianne Mwiki
Political Party: SNP
Ward: City Centre
What is your story?
My entire childhood was spend in a developing country. I consider myself as Caledonian Maasai. My ancestors are from Loliondo in Tanzania. I moved to Edinburgh from Birmingham in November 2003 and fell in love with the city. My community in Edinburgh helped me to raise my children, that’s why I chose to campaign for the mental well-being of young adults. My work life revolves around design, event-planning and working with charities that support women. I have a keen interest in eliminating discrimination and promoting equality.
What are the main issues you will campaign on – both as a party and personally?
My passion is to bring people together in our local community, to help others who are in need and have suffered difficulties. I will campaign also on mental health for young adults and the benefits of an Independent Scotland. As a New Scot, I want to reach out to other New Scots who have made their home here, like me, and take up the issues that affect them.
What do you consider to be your or your party’s achievements or legacy during the last council session?
Tackling the housing crisis has been a major achievement of the SNP. We have built thousands of affordable homes and secured new powers to turn short-term lets back into homes for local people. The SNP has built new schools, improved the condition of Edinburgh’s roads and doubled free nursery provision. We have supported the refurbishment of culturally important sites like the King’s Theatre. Importantly to me, we have welcomed new Scots who have made their home in Edinburgh. For example, the SNP created a free face-to-face service (opposed by the Conservatives) that helped thousands of EU citizens living in Edinburgh secure settled status after Brexit. All in all, the SNP has delivered for Edinburgh.
What is the thing that few people would know about you?
I like dancing while cooking. In fact, if I wasn’t so passionate about politics, I would probably be a chef cooking while dancing on stage!
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
