Prof Wangari Maathai: The one-woman warrior

Prof Wangari

• Prof Wangari Maathai was born in Ihithe village, Nyeri on April Fool’s Day, 1940
• She was a lady of many firsts includig being the first East and Central African woman to earn a doctorate in biological sciences in 1971 and Kenya’s first woman professor
• Wangari earned her stripes campaigning against the destruction of the environment and with it the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

 She is among the only three women to have ever gunned for the presidency in Kenya - there were no women in this year’s election vying for the position.

Prof Wangari Muta Maathai vied for presidency in the 1997 General Election on a Liberal Party of Kenya ticket.