Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Celebrating the lives of our two heroines

by SHADRACK KIRONG

It is true that death don’t choose, because if it would it , all of us would not have allowed it to claim anyone’s live. The demise of the late Prof. Wangari Maathai and late Dr. Margaret Ogolla two weeks ago, has indeed robbed this country of their great heroines. Two unrelenting Kenyan women so to speak, that would leave no stone unturned in ensuring they romp home victory in their endeavors for the wellbeing of the Nation.

Dr. Ogolla is famously known for her book “The River and the Source” which was an examinable novel in KCSE (1999-2004) and won the 1995 Commonwealth Writers Prizes. In her story she depicts a true Kenya family, and some strong female characters. The story follows four generations of Kenyan Women in a rapidly changing country and society. In her sequel book, “I Swear by Apollo” she examines issues of medical ethics and authentic identity. Issues she adequately addressed with a lot of transparency and passion.

The Prolific writer is also remembered for service as medic in Kenyatta National Hospital and as Advisor to Kenya Bishops on issues of family and health. The SOS HIV/AIDS clinic April (2004-05), a clinic for people living with Aids (PLWAs), is said to have been founded through her own efforts. She is also the author of the book ‘’Unbowed’’ and ‘’ Place of Destiny’’ which talks of a woman dying of cancer.

Late Prof. Wangari Maathai, who became the first African woman and environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, has indeed left a legacy in this country. Her recognition however, did not come without eliciting controversy, especially in past the government. Maathai was a woman so popular with the ruling elite, her Green Belt Movement, which she started as an initiative to plant trees in forested Kenya, which was being encroached for human economic activities, has indeed yielded fruits.

On the political arena she was never oblivious and aloof of any political injustice. She started her political mission when she joined National Council of Women (NCW), organization devoted to bettering the status of African women. Many things can said about Maathai, but it is worth mentioning that it was through her Green Belt Movement and her acumen, in 2003 that saw the establishment of a programme, Women for Change (WFC), aimed at empowering Women, especially the young girls, new sense empowerment through education.

It is often said, it doesn’t matter how long you live, but what kind of legacy you live behind. Our two befallen Heroines have undoubtedly left a legacy in this country for these generation and generation to come. The new inroads of women in our today’s Kenyan politics, gender equity among others, owes it is support from these great women, who demonstrated that they were very ready to stand with all their courage, against all odds to fulfill not their dreams, but the dreams of all Kenyans.

While Prof. Maathai have been styled as “The Environmentalist” and Dr. Ogolla as “The Woman of all Seasons”, they will and will go down into our anal of History as our great Heroines.

QUOTE ‘’ When you think of all the conflicts we have, whether those conflicts are local, whether they are regional or global, these conflicts are often over the management, the distribution of resources. If these resources are very valuable, if these resources are scarce, if these resources are degraded, there is going to be competition’’

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