Celebrating the life of a real mother

After a hectic weekend, I naturally woke up a little late for a Monday (26 September). I quickly went for my new morning routine of first bringing myself to pace with developments in the world around me via the internet. That is when I realised that more sad news was streaming in from Kenya. My Twitter timeline was streaming with the confirmation that Professor Mary Wangari Maathai, a global environmentalist, had passed away after a long battle with cancer at a Nairobi hospital. In this information era where the control of information continues to be liberalised, it is important to crosscheck information especially if the first source is social media. However with Prof. Maathai, it was not long before the whole world was in unison as messages of condolence flowed from all corners of the world further cementing her description by Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper as “the tough and clever Kenyan girl who changed the world.” Tributes came in from Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and world leaders led by Pres. Mwai Kibaki and Pres. Jakaya Kikwete not forgetting several environmentalists across the globe. Not surprising at all considering that this lady was not just a professor of veterinary anatomy at the University of Nairobi but also a Nobel Prize laureate and a true champion of the environment. She earned her scars in long battles to save green belts in Kenya at a time when many feared to dare President Daniel Arap Moi. She was a highly educated woman who stuck to her principles by not merely being an activist but precisely a doer. Thanks to her, Uhuru Park was saved from the greedy KANU chiefs who preferred a concrete jungle to a public recreation space. Karura Forest was also saved by her activism after it had been parcelled out to ‘developers’. The kind of people who tend to think that preservation of the environment is a fantasy preoccupation of disillusioned romantics. Thanks to her, more than 30 million trees were planted by her Green Belt Movement. In Kenya, days of national mourning were declared by Pres. Kibaki, but since the environment is an issue that affects us all, it would only be fair to her if we all joined our Kenya brothers and sisters in celebrating the life of this phenomenal lady. It is also worth noting that her death has come at a crucial time when in Uganda, the future of a section of Mabira Forest is uncertain. This rain forest acts as a bloodline for the whole region as far as the survival of the mighty River Nile and Lake Victoria are concerned. I am sure the good and brave professor would not allow President Museveni to turn part of this forest into a sugarcane plantation. If indeed there is a sugar shortage, I think it is better to import from those with more instead of destroying a treasure like Mabira that gives us rain and sustains an ecosystem, for I am sure no one can import rain. The problem is that some of our politicians look at issues concerning the environment as political battlefields where they have to win no matter what. In my humble opinion, the best way that Kenyans can pay tribute to this true mother is by saving Mau forest from selfish politicians and encroachers. East Africa lies south of the Sahara and the best way we can delay or reverse the desert’s southern adventure is by keeping our area as green as possible. We need to be emancipated from the wrong thinking that development means high rise concrete structures replacing trees that are older than those cutting them. Rwanda observes a day each year when trees are planted all over the country. It would be nice to have this year’s tree planting day dedicated to this phenomenal courageous woman who dedicated her life to fighting for the right causes. She was not only known for standing up when the environment was threatened, but she maintained a deep interest in all matters of human development. Thanks to the policies of the Rwandan government, trees in Rwanda seem safer than in other East African countries despite the rising population. Even wetlands like Gishwati have been saved by pro-environment government policies. Mothers are by nature meant to protect their own especially the young. By fighting to save the environment, Prof Wangari Maathai was interested in protecting the future generations from the devastating effects of a destroyed environment. Rest in Peace our ‘green’ Professor Wangari Muta Maathai (1940 - 2011). ssenyonga@gmail.comBlog: www.ssenyonga.wordpress.comTwitter: @ssojo81