KP Khanal
KP Khanal | |
|---|---|
| केपी खनाल | |
 Khanal in 2026 | |
| Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha | |
| Assumed office 26 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Arun Kumar Chaudhary |
| Constituency | Kailali 2 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 January 2000 |
| Party | Rastriya Swatantra Party (2026–present) |
| Education | |
| Profession |
|
| Website | https://kpkhanal.com/ |
KP Khanal also spelled Kepi Khanal (born 11 January 2000) is a Nepalese politician, environmental campaigner, and social activist. He serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Representatives, representing the Kailali–2 constituency[1] and also a Central Committee Member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).[2] Elected at 26 years old, he entered the legislature as one of the youngest serving lawmakers in Nepal's parliament.[3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Khanal was born in Ramaroshan, Achham, Nepal.[5] He completed his School Leaving Certificate (SLC) at Kalika Higher Secondary School and his higher secondary education (+2) at Rastriya Secondary School, both situated in Lamkichuha, Kailali. He relocated to Kathmandu for higher education, completing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Texas International College in 2021. He subsequently enrolled in a Master of Arts program in Political Science at Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus (RR Campus), Tribhuvan University. [3]
Social and environmental activism
[edit]Khanal began civic organizing at age 13 as a child journalist and radio presenter for Radio Namaste in Tikapur, where he hosted Bal Bahas ("Children’s Debate"), a child-rights radio program.[6] He expanded into environmental protection, waste management, and youth mobilization. He is the founding chairperson of the Maina Devi Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to sanitation, nationwide volunteer network mobilization, and community awareness.[7]
His notable civic campaigns include:
- Kathmandu Trash Collection Race (2022, 2025): A competitive clean-up initiative across major city corridors involving thousands of participants.[8]
- Cleanup Premier League (2023): A public-awareness and solid-waste cleanup platform partnering with schools and Nepal Telecom.[9]
- All Nepal Clean-Up Campaign: A youth-driven sanitation mobilization running from Mechi to Mahakali.[10]
- Project Menstruation (2023): A reproductive health and hygiene program executed for the underprivileged Chepang community in Chitwan.[11]
Political career
[edit]Following the 2025 Gen Z protests and subsequent shift in Nepal's political landscape, Khanal transitioned into institutional politics. He joined the reform-oriented Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and was elected to the House of Representatives during the Nepalese general election on 5 March 2026.[12]
Contesting the Kailali–2 constituency, Khanal won with 19,057 votes, securing a victory margin of 7,108 votes over his closest opponent. He took his legislative oath of office on 26 March 2026.[13] His legislative focus centers on environmental regulation, solid waste policies, youth employment, and infrastructure development within the Sudurpaschim Province.
Awards and nominations
[edit]Khanal has received national and international honors for his environmental and humanitarian contributions, including:
- National Youth Icon Award (in India) - 2018[14]
- National Youth Lead Award - 2019 [15]
- DeshYuvaPratibhaSamman - 2078
- Youth Icon Award - 2020 [16][5][17]
- National Social Welfare Award (2021) – Government of Nepal
- Venus Samaj Sewa Samman -2021
- Best Social worker Award (UAE)- 2021
- Janasewa Shree Padak from (President of Nepal) -2023
- Young Achiever Award / International Achievement Award (2024) – Thailand
- Kalpavriksha Samman (2024) – Government of Rajasthan, India
Notes
[edit]- केपी खनाल in Nepali Language.
References
[edit]- ↑ "26-Year-Old KP Khanal of RSP Elected to House of Representatives from Kailali-2". english.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "RSP candidate KP Khanal wins in Kailali-2". myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- 1 2 "Khanal, who campaigned with a broom, is now an MP". Ekantipur. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ "Young representatives of a young country". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- 1 2 "कैलालीका समाजसेवी २० वर्षीय केपी खनाल गान्धी जयन्तीमा सम्मानित हुँदै". Lokaantar.
- 1 2 "KP Khanal: Face of Nepali youth activism". The Annapurna Express. 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ↑ "Message from Chairperson – MDF". Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "5 teams collecting 1000kg trash in race awarded". 5 teams collecting 1000kg trash in race awarded. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ "NTC Clean-Up Premier League kicks off". Nepal News. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ "After taking over the world, #trashtag comes to Nepal". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ "PROJECT MENSTRUATION 2023 – MDF". Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ "26-Year-Old KP Khanal of RSP Elected to House of Representatives from Kailali-2". RatoPati. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ↑ "New Lawmakers Vow to Champion Youth Agendas After Taking Oath in Parliament". english.ratopati.com. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ Sen, Sandeep (2020-10-02). "Campaigner Khanal to be honoured in Delhi". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ↑ "NATIONAL YOUTH LEAD AWARDS 2019: TRISHALA GURUNG WINS POPULAR YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR". 14 May 2019.
- ↑ "Campaigner Khanal to be honoured in Delhi". The Himalayan Times. October 2, 2020.
- ↑ "अभियन्ता केपी खनाल 'युथ आइकन २०२०'बाट सम्मानित". Mahendranagar Post. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.