University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

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Women of Kenya (NCWK), the chair of which she became. Hence Wangari
Maathai’s value basis developed from childhood experiences, education and active
involvement in environmental and women rights issues.
President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya tried to restrict the influence of the Kikuyu
during 1978-2002, which caused Wangari Maathai many problems. She lost her
university job when trying to run for the parliament in 1982, but the Norwegian
Forestry Society employed her as a coordinator of the Green Belt Movement in
which they wanted to be partners. The UN gave funding to the Green Belt Movement,
particularly after the UN global women’s conference in Nairobi in 1985 during
which Maathai introduced the Green Belt Movement to the conference participants
and organized visits to the tree nurseries. The conference made the movement
African-wide, and the Pan-African Green Belt Network was founded.
Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement opposed the Kenyan government’s
exploitative and destructive construction development plans, which led to the closing
down of the Movement’s office. The bad publicity ended foreign funding in 1990.
Her name appeared on a list of individuals targeted for assassination. She was
arrested and charged for sedition and treason, but after pressure from international
organizations and US senators, including Al Gore and Ted Kennedy, the charges
were dropped. Despite problems in Kenya, Maathai’s work continued to be
internationally recognized and she was chosen a chief spokesperson for the UN
Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Wangari Maathai’s self-image as an environmental and women rights activist was
upheld by the external image by her local and international supporters although the
Kenyan government tarnished her image continuously during the 1990s through the
media. In Kenya Maathai was arrested many times until the 2002 elections in which
the National Rainbow Coalition defeated the ruling party. She became an elected
Member of Parliament and worked as the Assistant Minister for Environment and
Natural Resources. She founded the Mazingira Green Party of Kenya.
In role experimentation it has been natural for Wangari Maathai to integrate the roles
of an environmental activist, women’s rights activist and politician in the
circumstances of Kenya. She worked against the ethos of the Kenyan government
until 2002 with little realistic anticipation for achievement, but succeeded anyway,
despite the governmental opposition, because she believed in her cause, which was
recognized crucial locally and internationally, if not nationally.
Wangari Maathai’s time perspective has remained realistic: she has worked hard ever
since 1977 for the Green Belt Movement and has overcome a huge number of
problems and hardships during which she has not lost sight of the goal. In her latest
book, The Challenge for Africa, Maathai (2009) emphasizes the responsibility and
accountability of all Africans in the development of the continent. She is a
responsible leader who encourages her followers to become responsible leaders in
their lives.