2008-04-11 Kenya's Nobel Laureate withdraws from Olympic torch relay. International Herald Tribune.

Wangari Maathai says she has pulled out of the Olympic torch relay this weekend in Tanzania to protest human rights abuses.

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2008-04-02 Maathai teargassed over 'lean' government. The Standard, Kenya.

Barely 90 days after losing her parliamentary seat, Prof Wangari Maathai was teargassed at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner, Nairobi.

Maathai had accompanied civil society activists protesting against a proposal for a 44-member Cabinet, which they said would drain public coffers by "up to Sh387 billion" annually.

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2008-02-20 Kenya's Nobel winner Wangari Maathai receives death threats. Reuters.

Wangari Maathai has received death threats after her appeal to Kenyan leaders to reach a peaceful agreement.

"Because of your opposing the government at all times ... we have decided to look for your head very soon," said one of the messages Wangari Maathai read to reporters. She urged the government to restore bodyguards whom she says it recently recalled.

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Violence in Kenya

Below follows the text of an email that Wangari Maathai distributed on January 16, 2008.

Greetings from Nairobi,

I know you are concerned about the ongoing crisis in Kenya and are anxious to learn about the situation on the ground, so I wanted to share with friends a more personal reflection of the recent events. While the situation is very sad and dangerous in some places, we are largely safe and those in affected areas have been advised to move to safer ground. It is tragic to see citizens of Kenya turned into “refugees” in their own country, but such is the gravity of this crisis.

Unfortunately, the GBM family has not been untouched: at least one member of the GBM staff lost his home to burning. His family is safe, but now displaced. Mwangi’s family lived in Kericho, which was one of the areas affected by violence. The situation, especially in the rural areas, has no doubt affected some of the communities we work with so GBM is providing whatever logistical support we can to ensure they are safe. As days go on and the standoff continues, we anticipate that more people will approach us for support to rebuild their lives. There will be opportunities to intervene officially as an organization through our advocacy and networking programs, and we look forward to playing a leadership role.

In the meantime, my major contribution has been appealing for peace, dialogue and reconciliation between the two leaders and their teams. On GBM’s website (www.greenbeltmovement.org) you will find articles that I have published in both local and international press to give you some background information and ideas that I have proposed for moving forward. You can read one such statement by clicking here. The only way forward is through mediation and dialogue, so I will continue devoting my time to trying to bring together the parties and meeting with other members of civil society. Updates will continue to be posted on our website for you to see. Please keep us in your thoughts as we move through this defining moment in our history. It will never be the same again.

As ever, you are in my thoughts. I thank you always for your concern, messages and support. I look forward to hearing from you.


With best wishes and appreciation,

Wangari