Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has appointed a Kenyan to serve in his government as the new commissioner of Commerce and Insurance.
The 42-year-old Hodgen Mainda, who first moved to the US in 2008 as a rugby player becomes the first Kenyan to hold such a position in the State of Tennessee, after working in government relations and business development roles in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Mr Mainda becomes the first Kenyan to serve in that capacity. Tennessee is a stronghold of President Donald Trump and Grand Old Party (Republican party).
“Mainda joins my cabinet after an outstanding career as a community leader in Chattanooga," Governor Lee said in an announcement on Thursday.
"He is respected for his ability to build partnerships across multiple sectors and we welcome his leadership to such a multifaceted department like commerce and insurance."
Mainda is also a member of the Leadership Tennessee Class of 2019 and a 2018 graduate of the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Programme.
"I am thrilled for the state of Tennessee to have such a wonderful young leader in such a very important role," said state Rep Robin Smith, the chairman of the House Insurance Committee.
"Mainda will do a fantastic job based on his history of working on many projects in the Hamilton County area."
A number of Kenyans have excelled elsewhere across the globe and Mr Mainda's appointment may not be a surprise after all. Currently, a Kenyan is serving in Australian parliament.
Further, President Barack Obama, who served from 2008-16 as US President, had roots in Kenya. His father, Barack Obama Sr, was a Kenyan national.
Mr Mainda is married to an American and the couple has two children. He will play an integral role in Governor Lee's cabinet in the next couple of months.