Wangari Honored Posthumously

Published on 14/11/2011
Standard Newspaper Kenya www.eastandard.net
By Peter Orengo

The late Prof Wangari Maathai has been awarded the UN 2011 Millennium Development Goal Award, posthumously, for her contribution in environmental conservation.

The Nobel laureate who passed on in September was hounoured by the MDGs Trust Fund for her contribution in driving the achievement of MDG 7, which ensures use of principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes to reverse loss of environmental resources.

Director of MDGs Trust Fund Ben Omondi presented the award to Greenbelt Movement acting executive director, Prof Karanja Njoroge, at the organisation's offices in Nairobi.

"Members of the MDGs Trust Fund were impressed by the dedication, determination and courage the professor showed in her work. She was passionate about making this world a better place," said Mr Omondi.

Before her death, Maathai had been appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the African High Level Advocacy Group of the MDGs. Its main role is to advance progress on the MDGs of slashing hunger, poverty, disease and lack of access to education by 2015.

Environmental campaigner
Omondi said the UNDP took into consideration Maathai's work as an environmental campaigner, her commitment to democracy and her international recognition.

"We know we are honouring Africa's foremost environmental campaigner recognised internationally for her commitment to democracy, human rights and conservation," said Omondi.

Njoroge said awarding Maathai posthumously would inspire other Kenyans to emulate her.
"Wangari should inspire other Kenyans to take up action to do things that can change their lives. She fought so hard to reach where she did and received all these awards," said Njoroge.

The MDGs are a set of eight development goals endorsed by world leaders in 2000 and include poverty eradication, increased access to primary education, women empowerment, reducing child mortality, improved maternal health and environmetal conservation.

Maathai was the founder of the Green Belt Movement that encouraged women in rural Kenya to plant trees to improve their livelihoods through better access to clean water, firewood for cooking and other resources.