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| Maathai (C), with President Barack Obama (L) and his wife |
The demise of African first woman Nobel Peace laureate last Sunday indeed has left behind a huge lacuna in the continent, especially in advocacy for the protection of environment. Professor Wangari Maathai was not only a forerunner and a courageous environmentalist but one that has invested beyond her life; even in death to propagate this interest. She had projected and made arrangements that would continue the struggle in keeping the course alive in environmental protection.
Maathai’s last wish was to be buried not in a wooden coffin; this she told her Green Belt Movement after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She is of the belief that with the high rate of death from Aids, an alternative to stop the traditional felling of trees to build coffin is needed in order to protect forests.
“She was one of those who did say that we better think of something else besides cutting down trees for caskets” Professor Vertistine Mbaya, who is a treasurer of the Green Movement, told Kenya’s Daily Nation.
The movement is putting effort to make her last wish of remaining green to the grave fulfilled.
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| Maathai with Oprah Wifrey |
Some critics are of the view that she only planted trees, and wonders how could she get the Nobel Peace Prize for planting trees? She indeed planted trees, millions of trees, to prevent the spread of the desert and to strengthen the environment. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a message to reporters that “Planting trees was also one way for her to combat the country’s dictatorship.”
The Green Belt Movement, which she founded in 1977, has planted an estimated 45 million trees around Kenya.
She will also be remembered for her courage and tenacity in seeking social justice, human rights protection, conservation, democracy and fighting corruption.
The Kenyan government yesterday announced plans to give her a state burial. President Mwai Kibaki has also declared a two-day national mourning for her.
Other several activities have been lined up to honour the fallen icon. There will be daily prayers at St Andrews PCEA Church in Nairobi starting at 5.30 pm until she is buried.
Her private life
The Nobel Laureate’s ex-husband, Mwangi Mathai left her in 1977 and he eventually sued for a divorce in 1979 saying she was too strong-minded for a woman and he was unable to control her. He even accused her of adultery with another law maker, which he said has lead to his high blood pressure and cruelty. The Judge agreed with the husband in the divorce case. During an interview Maathai referred to the judge as either incompetent or corrupt. This led to her six-month sentence, which she spent only three days before her lawyer successfully convinced the court to secure her release.
After the divorce, her ex- husband sent his lawyer to demand that Maathai drop his surname. In defiance she chose to add an extra ‘a’ to the name instead.
She is survived by her three children—Waweru, Wanjira, and Muta, and her granddaughter, Ruth Wangari.
Political experience
As previously stated, Maathai was also a political activist, and fought against corruption and course to uphold her country’s democracy. She paid a heavy price for her courage that comprised of repeated beatings, incarceration, harassment, and public vilification by the Daniel arap Moi regime.
She is famously known for coming out against former authoritarian president Moi's plans to build a skyscraper at a park in central Nairobi and grab a forest near the city centre.
In 1979, shortly after her divorce, she ran for the position of chairman of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK), she lost by three votes and was chosen as vice chairman. She repeated the contest the next year, and her opponent withdrew when it was certain she will win. She was then declared winner unopposed.
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