Preserving Wangari Maathai’s legacy

By Peter Orengo

The family and friends of Professor Wangari Maathai on Tuesday released plans and events that will precede the funeral of the fallen hero and head of the Greenbelt Movement.

In Nairobi, books to pay tribute and condolences will be placed at the Nairobi University’s main campus and another one at Upper Kabete where Professor Maathai taught for many years.

Countrywide, condolences books will be placed at the district headquarters in all the 47 counties. Others will also be at the Greenbelt office in Nairobi and Uhuru Park’s freedom corner, which became synonymous with Maathai’s fight for democracy and environmental conservation.

The Greenbelt Movement treasurer Vertistine Mbaya who read the tentative plans on behalf of the family said prayers will be presented on Wednesday from 5:30pm at St Andrews Church, University of Nairobi.

A special prayer will be conducted on Friday at the same church where songs and eulogy in remembrance to the Professor shall be presented.

“We want to ensure that the legacy of Professor Maathai is preserved. Those who want to pay tribute to her can came to these areas and do so,” said Mbaya.

A special bank account has also been opened at the NIC bank Nairobi where members of the public who wish to contribute can do so. The account number is 111110000008.

There are also plans by former colleagues and professors to start a Wangari Maathai Institute of Environmental Studies at Upper Kabete, the campus where the professor spent her teaching life.

Similarly, a special section will be hived out of Karura forest and be dedicated to Professor Maathai. The site will be planted with trees in a certain pattern, then an artifact or monument of Maathai be erected there in memory of the Nobel Laureate.

“The professor suffered a lot to protect this forest. The list we can do now is to permanently remember her in this particular forest. We shall announce a date to do this,’ said Mbaya.