WHY IS WANGARI MATHAI SILENT ON MAU SAGA?

The Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Mathai, is a global figure and a respected voice in our Country but her long silence on the Mau is extremely wanting.

Politicians have taken over the saga for their political glory which is very tragic for environmental protection. It’s sad that we saw an elected leader convince his constituents that tree don’t attract rain.

This is the best opportunity for Professor Wangari to take a stand on the Mau saga because leaving it on the hands of politicians will be very tragic for the country’s environment.

The Nobel Prize comes with great responsibilities and expectations. That is why many Kenyans expected a lot from professor Mathai. We need her to speak out and take a stand because Kenyans are watching and so is the international community.

A lot of things have happened in the Country requiring Wangari Mathai to voice her concern especially the Ndungu land report which came out immediately she was awarded the coveted prize but has never been made public till today.

When a storm is brewing on national matters, professor Mathai has always kept silent. She remained lukewarm during the 2005 constitutional referendum but decided to keep active in boardrooms trying to coin for a party that Kibaki was to stand for re-election in early 2007.

She was silent on many bills while being an MP of Tetu for instance when Parliament voted to forgive those responsible for looting of public coffers. Above all, when MPs decided to award themselves terminal benefits; which was a toll on the exchequer, she still remained silent.

We owe the survival of Karura forest, and Uhuru Park to Wangari Mathai. Through the Greenbelt Movement, the country experienced massive re-aforestation campaign s throughout the Country. Therefore, we expected the Nobel Laureate to catalyse her efforts after winning the Nobel Prize, but it has not been the case especially what is currently going on the Mau Forest.

Kenya is one of the countries in Sub Saharan Africa with many the environmental challenges that require urgent remedies. This is despite being home to three global environmental bodies- Habitat, UNEP and the International Centre for Research in Agro Forestry (ICRAF) and having a Laureate recognized for her environmental protection and activism.

The garbage dumping at Dandora estate, rampant flooding in Budalangi and Kano plains in Western Kenya, drought in the semi arid regions of Kenya, dwindling of water regimes in our Rivers and Lakes, Soil erosion, mass infestation of the water hyacinth weed in Lake Victoria are all environmental catastrophes that require urgent attention.

While we realize that the professor alone cannot solve all environmental drawbacks facing Kenya, she should use her international stature to lobby foreign nations and donor agencies to assist on environmental protection. She also needs to visit all flood prone areas like Budalangi, as an environmentalist to see the best way the problem can be addressed.

We can’t narrow environmental protection on planting trees alone. It must broadly cover areas like: improved sanitation in urban and rural areas, provision of clean water, proper sewage management, land reclamation in arid and semi arid areas and reduction of all forms of pollution.

Therefore, professor Wangari Mathai has a golden opportunity to utilise her stature for the benefit of Kenya’s environmental protection.