What has changed in the last ten years?

I think it will take some to come to terms with Wangari's passing on and to accept that the soldier who fought valiantly, not only for environmental matters but for democracy in this country, is no more. I have been struggling with many questions with regard to what is referred to as the 'second liberation' and if indeed things have changed and if they have changed what kind of change are we talking about.

The picture on the left shows Wangari defiantly opposed the government's plan to plant right in Uhuru Park, a 60 storey building with funding from the people we love and adore, 'foreign investors'. International pressure influenced by Wangari's stand against this project, saved the day.

I just keep wondering if it was today the project would have been stopped. Discussing with friends the other day, the general view was there would be a tall building in Uhuru Park. What is the reasoning? For one, there is such political apathy as people struggle for survival in a situation of serious inflation and high cost of living. At that time there was one common enemy, KANU and the leadership then. The population was totally tired of the politics of the day, and even though they may not have overtly stood by her, they silently supported Wangari and I am almost sure she was aware of the political companionship of Kenyans. There was joint opposition. What about now? Would the leadership today which is busy dividing people through tribal politics even listen? It would seem that greed has blinded the leadership, made them deaf; totally focused on their survival and not that of Kenyans. And the laissez-fair attitude? And with the widening gap between the richest and poor, is there something or somebody that can bring us together to rally with Wangari to stop the construction? 

Thank God it didn't happen and that we had one courageous woman to stand up for us at that time. We have made a lot of gains democratically, and we can now seek recourse from the courts with confidence. But it is important to keep on interrogating ourselves on what progress we have made as a democracy. 

Fare thee well Wangari

Rest in Eternal Peace Wangari. You have left a legacy that will be almost impossible to equal. I felt even prouder of you as the nation mourned your passing on. In death, as is usual, we seemed to realise and acknowledge what you had done for this country. As they say in Gikuyu, 'Imenyaguo yari iria yakua', or only after it is dead does the owner know that his cow produced milk. We recognised the sacrifices you had made for this country; sacrifices hardly anyone else would have allowed themselves to go through. It is even beyond my comprehension how you managed to challenge the construction of the KANU Tower single handedly. Indeed in the photo at Uhuru Park, you look so lonely yet so brave. You allowed the government to bash you for Karura Forest and as you joined the mothers of political prisoners at the Freedom Corner. Indeed, by your commitment to planting trees, you protected our country the same way a mother would protect their child; ready to die for her. And there was always a smile on your face. 

From our guilt and embarassment, we had to give you a formal farewell, only befitting your stature as a Nobel Prize Laureate, and especially as your winning it put us to shame - we had continued to ignore the truth you stood for. How little we must look and feel, in the knowledge that most of us left you alone to fight for the life of this country. We can see now, years later and suffering for a large part of our population, what you fought against. We should have fought with you, supported and protected you but we didn't. But I cannot but feel even more proud of you now, as you lived your principles to the very end. You left the ruling and political elite no room to take advantage of the situation. You didn't allow them to politick at your funeral, competing for who gets the greatest visibility. You had given your wishes and left no space for them to abuse. There was no tribal, party or religious ownership.  And in death, as in life you taught us that simplicity did not whittle down respect and honour. It was not the expensive coffins, the palatial homes to show off, how big a crowd was fed, and how many politicians spoke at your funeral, that made one famous. Indeed, even in death you pushed us to think beyond the limits, to protect trees. Who would have thought about the hyacinth? You proved to Kenyans that it was our interdependence rather than dependence that was our strength; linking the people from the mountains to those from the plains; those from the lakes to coastal kindred and all of them were parts of this great nation.

Wangari, it was your actions and the life you lived that earned you the admiration and respect exhibited by people beyond our borders. It would seem that those who lived a life of sacrifice for the greater good died in peace and were genuinely mourned by many. I can only remember Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II, in the same breath. For you, even the Church seemed to be at home with the name Wangari at the Requiem Mass. Can our leaders learn from you?

You will always be my role model, for your courage, fierce defence of your principles, the great faith you had in yourself and most of all for your love for this country and mankind. Above all you were a great teacher and as I miss you, I will look 'up' to you for inspiration.