Kenyans to Plant 5000 trees to honour the Late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai in a State Burial

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Submitted by IQ4News on Fri, 07/10/2011 - 3:22pm

Prof. Wangari Maathai will be cremated on today, 8 Oct, according to her will that her casket should not be made of a wood as a respect to the trees she tirelessly fought to protect. IQ4News Kenya Reporter Joab Apollo reports.

Jane Wangui is a dejected student.

The 21-year old Actuarial Science student at the University of Nairobi has been in mourning since the death of Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Muta Maathai two weeks ago not only because she is a public figure, but also because she was the person she viewed would solve the ills Kenya faces if she stood as a president.

“I’m not just saddened by her death just because she is a woman, hers was beyond gender. Even the men agreed that Professor Wangari Maathai was a formidable woman” she says.

Condolence book still attracting signatures

But she is not the only one.

The level of sadness amongst Kenyans is manifested in the streets of Nairobi, Parks, forests and in institutions of Higher learning.

At the University of Nairobi, the condolence book at the entrance still attracts signatures, at the Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park, students and members of the public are meditating on what the beautiful trees embellishing the park would be like, bearing in mind it is the same spot where the late Maathai was beaten up and embarrassed when she resisted an attempt by the Kenyan government to put a mega building for state-owned media, The Kenya Times.

Nairobi lawyer and former Kabete legislature, Paul Kibugi Muite lead a group of Human Rights activists under the banner ”Release Political prisoners” in a commemoration ceremony in readiness for Saturday’s state Burial at Uhuru Park.

They called on Kenyans to let the spirit of Wangari Maathai live on through respect to the ecosystem. “Professor Maathai was a leader whose achievements drew wide international acclaim” Muite said.

Family released burial programme

Professor Wangari Maathai’s family and the officials of the Green Belt Movement which she founded, on Friday released a programme which they sent to newsrooms in the country detailing what to be followed on the burial day.

According to the programme, the body will leave Lee Funeral Home at 9.00am for Uhuru Park for a state ceremony.

There will be an inter-denominational Prayer meeting which will also be addressed by leaders in the government of Kenya and those from other countries.

Thereafter the casket, said to be eco-friendly according to the late Maathai’s wish, will be cremated at Kariokor cemetery.

Planting of 5000 trees

This would be followed by the planting of 5000 trees at Karura Forest in the outskirts of Nairobi.

The Kenya Forest Department has stated it would lobby Kenyans all over the country to plant as many trees as possible on Saturday as a befitting farewell for the late Professor Wangari Maathai.