Wangari Maathai
Early life of Wangari Maathai.
Maathai was born on April 1, 1940 in the Ihithe village, Nyeri County, in the
central region to Muta Njugi, a farm labourer on a white owned farm in the rift valley. In
1950, she joined Ihithe Primary School for primary education in 1951, Maathai moved to
St. Cecilia's Intermediate Primary School at the Mathari Catholic Mission in Nyeri where
she studied for four years.During this time, she converted to Catholicism, taking the
Christian name Mary Josephine. In 1956 she joined Loreto High School Limuru.
She was chosen to study at American universities in September 1960 under the Kennedy
Airlift or Airlift Africa. In 1964, she joined the University of Pittsburgh to study for a
master's degree in biology.In January 1966, upon her return to Kenya, Maathai dropped
her Christian name, preferring to be known by her birth name, Wangari Muta. In April
1966, she met Mwangi Mathai, whom she later married in 1969 and had three children
with him.In 1971, she became the first Eastern African woman to receive a Ph.D., (in
Anatomy) from the University of Nairobi. She was a member of the Nairobi branch of the
Kenya Red Cross Society, becoming its director in 1973. In 1979, her husband, Mwangi
Mathai divorced her, saying she was too strong-minded for a woman and wife and
accusing her of adultery with another Member of Parliament.
Wangari Maathai as political activist.
In 1979, Maathai ran for the position of ch airman of the National Council of Women of
Kenya (NCWK). She lost, but was chosen to be the vice-chairman of the organization. In
1980, Maathai was elected chairman of the NCWK unopposed. However NCWK was left
virtually bankrupt, as Future funding by government was channeled to Maendeleo Ya
Wanawake a progovernment splinter group.In 1982, she resigned from the University of
Nairobi to campaign for a Parliamentary seat in her home region of Nyeri. However, she
was disqualified from vying.On February 28, 1992, Maathai and others took part in a
hunger strike in Uhuru Park, to pressure the government to release political prisoners.
The protest continued until early 1993, when the prisoners were finally released. After
the first multi-party election of Kenya, in 1992, Maathai traveled with friends and the
, press to areas of violence in order to encourage them to cease fighting. After her friend
and supporter Dr. Mukanga was kidnapped, Maathai chose to go into hiding.During the
elections of 1997, Maathai ran for parliament and for president as a candidate of the
Liberal Party. She lost the election.On July 7, 2001, shortly after planting trees at
Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park in Nairobi to commemorate Saba Saba Day, Maathai was
again arrested. Later that evening, she was again released without being charged.Maathai
378
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again campaigned for parliament in the 2002 elections, this time as a candidate of the
National Rainbow Coalition; she won with an overwhelming 98% of the vote. In January
2003, she was appointed Assistant Minister in the Ministry for Environment and Natural
Resources and served in that capacity until November 2005. In December 2007, choosing
to run as the candidate of a smaller party Maathai was, defeated in the parliamentary
election. The life of Wangari Maathai as an environmental conservationist.Following the
establishment of the Environment Liaison Centre in 1974, Maathai became the chair of
the board. In 1974, with her husband as the MP for Lang’ata constituency, Maathai
founded the Envirocare Ltd., a business that involved the planting of trees to conserve the
environment. This led to the planting of her first tree nursery, in a government tree
nursery in Karura Forest. On June 5, 1977, marking World Environment Day, Maathai
led the NCWK in a procession from Kenyatta International Conference Centre to
Kamukunji Park where they planted seven trees in honor of historical community leaders.
This was the first "Green Belt" planted by what became the Green Belt Movement.
In 1982, she was approached by Wilhelm Elsrud, executive director of the Norwegian
Forestry Society. Who partnered with the Green Belt Movement and offered her the
position of coordinator. In 1987, Maathai stepped down as chairman of the NCWK and
focused her attention on the newly separate nongovernmental organization.In October
1989, Maathai learned of a plan to construct the 60 -story Kenya Times Media Trust
Early life of Wangari Maathai.
Maathai was born on April 1, 1940 in the Ihithe village, Nyeri County, in the
central region to Muta Njugi, a farm labourer on a white owned farm in the rift valley. In
1950, she joined Ihithe Primary School for primary education in 1951, Maathai moved to
St. Cecilia's Intermediate Primary School at the Mathari Catholic Mission in Nyeri where
she studied for four years.During this time, she converted to Catholicism, taking the
Christian name Mary Josephine. In 1956 she joined Loreto High School Limuru.
She was chosen to study at American universities in September 1960 under the Kennedy
Airlift or Airlift Africa. In 1964, she joined the University of Pittsburgh to study for a
master's degree in biology.In January 1966, upon her return to Kenya, Maathai dropped
her Christian name, preferring to be known by her birth name, Wangari Muta. In April
1966, she met Mwangi Mathai, whom she later married in 1969 and had three children
with him.In 1971, she became the first Eastern African woman to receive a Ph.D., (in
Anatomy) from the University of Nairobi. She was a member of the Nairobi branch of the
Kenya Red Cross Society, becoming its director in 1973. In 1979, her husband, Mwangi
Mathai divorced her, saying she was too strong-minded for a woman and wife and
accusing her of adultery with another Member of Parliament.
Wangari Maathai as political activist.
In 1979, Maathai ran for the position of ch airman of the National Council of Women of
Kenya (NCWK). She lost, but was chosen to be the vice-chairman of the organization. In
1980, Maathai was elected chairman of the NCWK unopposed. However NCWK was left
virtually bankrupt, as Future funding by government was channeled to Maendeleo Ya
Wanawake a progovernment splinter group.In 1982, she resigned from the University of
Nairobi to campaign for a Parliamentary seat in her home region of Nyeri. However, she
was disqualified from vying.On February 28, 1992, Maathai and others took part in a
hunger strike in Uhuru Park, to pressure the government to release political prisoners.
The protest continued until early 1993, when the prisoners were finally released. After
the first multi-party election of Kenya, in 1992, Maathai traveled with friends and the
, press to areas of violence in order to encourage them to cease fighting. After her friend
and supporter Dr. Mukanga was kidnapped, Maathai chose to go into hiding.During the
elections of 1997, Maathai ran for parliament and for president as a candidate of the
Liberal Party. She lost the election.On July 7, 2001, shortly after planting trees at
Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park in Nairobi to commemorate Saba Saba Day, Maathai was
again arrested. Later that evening, she was again released without being charged.Maathai
378
FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL MATERIALS CONTACT CHAMPIONS K.C.S.E REVISION ON 0725733640 378
again campaigned for parliament in the 2002 elections, this time as a candidate of the
National Rainbow Coalition; she won with an overwhelming 98% of the vote. In January
2003, she was appointed Assistant Minister in the Ministry for Environment and Natural
Resources and served in that capacity until November 2005. In December 2007, choosing
to run as the candidate of a smaller party Maathai was, defeated in the parliamentary
election. The life of Wangari Maathai as an environmental conservationist.Following the
establishment of the Environment Liaison Centre in 1974, Maathai became the chair of
the board. In 1974, with her husband as the MP for Lang’ata constituency, Maathai
founded the Envirocare Ltd., a business that involved the planting of trees to conserve the
environment. This led to the planting of her first tree nursery, in a government tree
nursery in Karura Forest. On June 5, 1977, marking World Environment Day, Maathai
led the NCWK in a procession from Kenyatta International Conference Centre to
Kamukunji Park where they planted seven trees in honor of historical community leaders.
This was the first "Green Belt" planted by what became the Green Belt Movement.
In 1982, she was approached by Wilhelm Elsrud, executive director of the Norwegian
Forestry Society. Who partnered with the Green Belt Movement and offered her the
position of coordinator. In 1987, Maathai stepped down as chairman of the NCWK and
focused her attention on the newly separate nongovernmental organization.In October
1989, Maathai learned of a plan to construct the 60 -story Kenya Times Media Trust
