Peace in Environment

Upbeat mood in Washington News of Prof. Wangari Maathai's award of the Nobel Peace Prize has instantly raised the face of Kenya in the international community. Everyone here is happy with the decision of the Noble Committee in Oslo. It is important for Kenyans to reflect on this award and what it means for Kenya. Wangari has become the first African woman to win the coveted peace prize. Kenya now ranks second to South Africa in the journey of peace. The first peace prize in Africa was bagged by Chief Albert Luthuli in 1964. Wangari not only stood up fiercely against the irrational leadership of president Moi but also raised the profile of the Kenyan woman. In 1992 she tried unsuccessfully to unite the opposition even as backed Jaramogi Oginga Odinga against the will of her tribe mates. The culturally cursing women public nudity that involved Koigi's mother was reminiscent of Mary Nyanjiru's removal of her skirt to give cowardly men who refused to storm the Nairobi police station to release Harry Thuku in 1922. It is in line with Kikuyu protest tradition that saw Waiyaki wa Hinga burried alive near Kibwezi rather than succumb to humiliation by a colonial officer in Dagoretti,a Mr. Purkiss.

Wangari is an ambitious woman. She vied for presidency in 1997 not so much because she had any chances but because she never wanted Charity Ngilu to take another first from her by being the first woman presidential candidate in Kenya. This nobel prize has raised Kenya's visibility abroad. It can have an impact in tourism and giving a general clean bill of health to the new leadership in Kenya. It should be given the right interpretation and place in the Kenyan psyche so that it can inspire the right attitudes and behavior in society. I admire the way South Africans would have used such an occassion to make a national celebration. This is because it has a healing potential for the nation. I would be optimistic to believe that this award will inspire women and men to strive for hard earned recognition rather than mediocre short cut (corruption) based elevation that have propelled some leaders in Kenya.

There are many more women in Africa who would give Wangari a run for her money. In Kenya alone there is the renowned women educationist Dr. Eddah Gachukia, in Tanzania we have Mrs. Getrude Mongella, now Chairman of AU parliament and UN boss Anna Tibaijuka, in Uganda we have legislators Winnie Byanyima and S. Kazibwe. We can't forget the late Rwandese Prime Minister, Agatha Uwilingiyimana and first woman president Ruth Sando Pere of Sierra Leone and Sirleaf Johnson, a 1997 presidential contender in Liberia. We can't also forget Winnie Madikizela Mandela and Graca Machel Mandela. Wangari has opened the way for honoring more African women honors. Hongera!