Wangari Maathai

By Editor K 26/09/2011 14:28:00 // Photos | Wangari Maathai

// Font size:

1 of 10

Maathai was a trailblazer throughout her life. She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree and in 2002 was elected to Kenya's parliament with 98 percent of the vote.

In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Wangari was the first African woman to win the Nobel prize but followed previous winners from the continent such as Nelson Mandela.

Maathai was famed for her commitment to environmental causes. Here she confronts hired security guards in Kenya aiming to prevent her organization, the Green Belt Movement from planting trees

Maathai was also committed to the cause of reducing poverty and took part in the Live 8 campaign alongside rock superstars such as Bob Geldof and Bono.

Wangari Maathai plants a tree in Nairobi 2006 with the visiting --then Senator for the state of Illinois -- Barack Obama.

In 2007, Maathai received the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Previous recipients of the award include Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi and

Receiving the Chairman's award alongside fellow environmental campaigner and Nobel Prize Winner, Al Gore at the NAACP Image Awards in 2009. Maathai is survived by her three children and grandaughter.

All in all, the Green Belt Movement has assisted in planting more than 40 million trees worldwide.

1 of 10

Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the Nobel Peace Prize, died Monday after a battle with cancer. She was 71.

Click Here to Comment on this Article

Tagged : Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai daed

Headlines Newsview all

RUMOUR: Is WILLIAM RUTO having a love affair with TNA’s S8XY Senator LESUUDA?

The Kenyan DAILY POST Gossip and Drama 04:29 Monday May 20, 2013 - Word from our moles in the political circles has it that Deputy President William Ruto is ...

11 EXCLUSIVE PHOTOs of the INTERIOR of the Private Jet that WILLIAM RUTO used in his tour

[unable to retrieve full-text content] ...

SHAME as Catholic Church catechist STEALS a COW in Teso South

DAILY POST: SHAME as Catholic Church catechist STEALS a COW in Teso South The Kenyan DAILY POST County News 04:01 Monday 20th May 2013 - Police in Teso South ...

17 in court over cruelty to ‘Parliament’ pigs

The protesters said they used pigs to signify the greed of MPs who are demanding higher pay. Photo/ FILE NAIROBI, Kenya, May 20 – Seventeen protestors ...

HARUN MWAU (the boss’) sues blogger for linking him to SAITOTI and OJODE’s murder

The Kenyan DAILY POST Entertainment News 03:41 Monday May 20, 2013 - News just in indicates that former Kilome MP Harun Mwau has sued Nairobi’s blogger suspected to be ...

Blogger charged with linking Mwau to deaths of ministers

Former Kilome MP Harun Mwau has sued a blogger over social media post ...

Who is doing this to WILLIAM RUTO, please STOP?

[unable to retrieve full-text content] ...

MAINA KAGENI and CAROLINE MUTOKO go off air courtesy of …… Guess Who???

DAILY POST: MAINA KAGENI and CAROLINE MUTOKO go off air courtesy of …… Guess Who??? The Kenyan DAILY POST Entertainment News, Media News 03:51 Monday, May 20, 2013 – If you ...

Otongolo time writer almost KILLED by unknown people…. PHOTO!

DAILY POST: Otongolo time writer almost KILLED by unknown people…. PHOTO! The Kenyan DAILY POST Entertainment News 03:47 Monday, May 20, 2013 - He may not be as popular as ...

HOT PHOTOs of KTN’s Joy Doreen Biira …… The third S3XI3ST LADY in UG

[unable to retrieve full-text content] ...

KTN’s DOREEN BIIRA is the 3rd S3XI3ST woman in UGANDA - FULL LIST

DAILY POST: KTN’s DOREEN BIIRA is the 3rd S3XI3ST woman in UGANDA - FULL LIST The Kenyan DAILY POST Entertainment News, Media News 03:35 Monday, May 20, 2013 - It’s no ...