Simply Unbowed

Totally enjoyed reading this book which is so info-packed yet it flows smoothly.

She was born Wangari Muta in 1940. Went to USA in 1960 on the Kennedy Airlift and returned to Kenya in 1966 with a Masters. After research in Germany she got a PhD in 1971 from The University of Nairobi (UoN) where she lectured.

The Greenbelt movement that she started in 1977 was 100% grass root, organic.

In 1969 Wangari got married to Mwangi who became MP for Langata in 1974. He left her in 1977 and they divorced publicly in 1979. For saying judge in her divorce case was corrupt she was jailed for contempt of court.

She added extra ‘a’ to distinguish from ex-hubby Mathai name.

Prof. Maathai ran afoul of President Daniel arap Moi regime in 1979 during National Council of Women of Kenya chair elections. In 1982 she resigned from UoN to vie for a Member of Parliament seat but the ruling and only party Kanu locked her out on technicality. UoN refused to rehire her and kicked her out of her university house. *After she won the Nobel UoN gave her a honorary doctorate.

As the Moi regime fought Prof. Maathai, Norwegian NGOs, UN Fund for women starting in 1982 gave seed money that saw Greenbelt movement flourish across Kenya through the efforts of village women. By mid-80s Greenbelt was global.

Found it cool that the Professor and Princess Diana celebrated each other.

In 1989/90 Prof. Mathaai protest against the construction of a tower at Uhuru Park saved the park. In 1990/91 she was part of the fight for Kenya’s 2nd liberation. In 1992 she was part of Release Political Prisoners women group that stripped at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner. In 1993 she shone spotlight on Rift Valley tribal clashes.

Had forgotten about Prof. Maathai running for President in 1997! She was a dreamer and an idealist who rudely discovered Kenyan voters are tribal, averse to policies and ideologies and only care for the Big Men tribal chiefs. 

In 1998, Prof. Maathai despite being beaten by hired thugs stood up to President Moi who had parceled out Karura Forest to his friends to construct houses and hotels. Her protest was successful and Karura is currently a treasured public resource. 

In 2002 Prof. Maathai was elected MP for Tetu. President Mwai Kibaki then appointed her Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources (you’d have expected her to be named a full Minister of Environment).

In 2004, she won the Nobel Prize as a culmination and celebration of her life’s work of protecting the environment.

She passed away in 2011.

Methinks Uhuru Park should be renamed Wangari Maathai Park as a reminder that in 1989 – 90, Prof. Maathai saved Uhuru Park by protesting against the proposed building of a 60-storey Kenya Times Tower by the Moi-led Kanu govt. 

Totally recommend this book about a phenomenal woman whose story is deserving of a movie.

Thank you Prof. Wangari Maathai.