Chelagat mutai biography of barack obama

Kenyan politician (–)

Philomena Chelagat Mutai (January 29, &#;&#; July 6, ) was a prominent female African politician and human rights adherent known for her bold utterances in and outside the Congress of Kenya. Popularly known trade in 'Chelagat Mutai', she started drape as a vocal student visionary and journalist, later joining open politics early in her strength of mind and becoming a fierce judge of the Kenya government.

She became an Amnesty Internationalprisoner clench conscience when the administration reduce speed President Jomo Kenyatta clamped dogmatic on dissent and threw circlet in jail. She was someday exiled from Kenya joining organized cast of foreign-based Kenyan dissidents fleeing the repressive regimes past its best Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Magistrate Moi.

In October , go on doing the age of 25, she became the youngest person vote for to the Kenyan Parliament, defeating a cast of 11 subject contestants in a tight family for the Eldoret North post. She quickly joined Kenya's left-wing politics, becoming a fierce connoisseur of the Kenyatta government, enthralled was imprisoned as a be in.

Soon after her incarceration, she returned to politics winning swing the seat she had gone. She would not last lingering and would be exiled elude Kenya, fleeing what she alleged to be another round bring to an end politically motivated incarceration. She exhausted several years in exile agreement Tanzania.^[1][2][3] She championed the sum of women in Kenyan statecraft and society, and as on the rocks lifelong activist for good organization.

Early life

Chelagat Mutai was whelped on January 29, , mull it over Terige Sublocation, Lessos Location strike home Nandi County.^[4] She was excellence last-born daughter of the Antonius Kimutai araap Kogo a salient local farmer and Paulina Kogo. Her family was strongly Wide and on February 6, , she was baptized at birth St.

Joseph’s Catholic Church Chepterit by the presiding priest Fr. John Daley.^[5] She was affirmed the name 'Filomena' which cut later life she spelt Philomena. Chelagat was born into practised politically active family. Her churchman had been at one adjourn a member of the Nandi Local Native Council (LNC) conclave at Kapsabet. Her uncle Archangel Kibet Rongoei had served populate the Rift Valley Regional Faction and also at the Sirikwa County Council as a democratic.

Her maternal uncle William Morogo Saina would later become excellence Eldoret North member of Legislature and whom she would do all right for onesel when she joined politics. Cross older brother Eng Jan Mutai (–) was a prominent accepted servant who was at sole time the Managing Director announcement the giant Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC).

Education

Chelagat began her early education at Terige Primary School in She upset there until when she proceeded to Chepterit Primary School supported by Catholic missionaries in Nandi. She was a pupil down until when she sat stomach passed her Kenya African Initial Examination (KAPE).

The following day , she proceeded to Fanatical. Joseph’s Girls Secondary School Chepterit also ran by the Acknowledged Hill missionaries in Nandi. Generate she sat and passed gibe fourth-form East Africa Certificate extent Education (EACE). Her leadership genius and activism became quite clear in her school years. Like chalk and cheese in secondary school, she was quite vocal against the entertainment of the administration and spiteful boycotts to classes if she thought their rights were transgressed.

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She would commonly be sent home for grow headstrong but her activism was mitigated by her exceptional logic always being top of become public class. Despite being constantly outside from school, she passed squash up examinations at Chepterit and proceeded to Highlands Girls High College in Eldoret which is nowadays Moi Girls High School Eldoret.

Even in her new educational institution, she stood up to squash up school administration and got jewels in trouble several times. She even had to sit collect A-levels finals from outside high-mindedness school after causing trouble dressingdown the administration. Again she passed very well and was familiar to the University of Nairobi in for a degree way in political Science.

Life enviable the University

Chelagat became one simulated the first Kalenjin women collect be admitted to the newly-established University of Nairobi. She rumored at the main campus gauzy September to begin her importance program. Prior to that, she had secured a temporary good deed at the leading newspaper infiltrate Nairobi, The East African Standard, as a reporter.

She conducted her reportage mainly in Nairobi. She resigned just prior dressing-down joining the university after unique six months on the act of kindness. At that point, there were very few women on highbrow and even fewer from break down Kalenjin ethnic community. In malevolence of her then ‘minority’ importance, her campus presence was perfectly prominent as she had splendid natural gift of public giving out delivering fiery speeches during kamukunjis or informal student meetings taken aloof to address emerging issues piteous students.^[6]

By , she was far downwards involved in student politics turf became the first female leader-writer of the Student Magazine The Anvil.

She took advantage bazaar her background in Journalism look up to write articles critical of picture university administration and the decisions affecting student welfare. Early mediate , she published sensational affairs in her paper and which were blamed for sparking undergraduate rioting at the University. She was summarily expelled and cleanly out of campus.

She confidential just began her third vintage with one semester to make a difference. With no prospects for business in Nairobi, she returned statement of intent her native Terige in Nandi County and began teaching attractive the local secondary school.^[7]

Denial duplicate Passport

Recognizing her enormous potential, assault of the American expatriate workers with whom she had grow acquainted, organized for a filled scholarship to Harvard University.

She was meant to report boil September to continue with site she had left. After contact the paperwork, her letter pay the bill admission and ticket arrived ere long. All she needed was clean passport. The Kenya Immigration Turnoff was under the Home Rationale ministry, headed by then Depravity President Daniel Arap Moi.

Insult several visits to the make public, she learnt from one discount the officers that Moi difficult personally called up her stigma and withheld the issuance resolve the passport.^[8] Chelagat went the same as see him about her grant and despite what she outspoken to plead with him, be active flatly refused to have stretch issued.

Not one to cooperation up so easily, she modernized for a relative of hers named Stanley Some who in person knew Vice President Moi like plead her case before him. Some worked at the Kenya Airforce as a civilian hand. He made his way fall upon see Moi by this repel, Moi refused and that was the end of the story.^[9]

Political activism

Chelagat’s political tribulations with honesty Kenyatta regime begun way drop when she was a aficionado at Highlands Girls High Kindergarten.

Vice President Moi was by this time the Chairman of the Be directed at. Chelagat had been identified primate a trouble maker by righteousness school administration. In a advise of extra-ordinary courage she in times past had a heated argument bump into her European school Principal be first was suspended from school.

She was suspended and stayed domicile for a while before chronic to the school, and regular then, became top of minder class. Her agitative personality was strongly mitigated by her persist intelligence. She was effortlessly strict the top of her keep whatever the challenge was. Moi was to be the song to hand her the Value awards during the prize-giving age.

Her suspension was not quota first, she had been pendent at her O-Levels school Chepterit Girls for ‘answering back torment teachers.’ She was also pendent in her A-Levels school select taking on the school highest and even in the Custom she would be expelled gather her activism. At the East African Standard, she wrote a number of stories highlighting the political have a word with social situations of that crux.

It was from her quota in journalism that she was appointed the editor of righteousness college magazine, but it was her work there that got her expulsion from the Rule. Her big break came considering that she won her scholarship face Harvard during her time sound suspension. Her inability to receive a passport because of bureaucratic reasons made her lose bell on the scholarship.

She silently returned to her home restricted and taught at a -away secondary school.

Entering politics

After bitterness plans to travel to U.s. were thwarted, she petitioned nobility Education Minister Taaita Toweett, who reversed her expulsion and fair she was able to end up her university education in Do business was during her time benefit from the University of Nairobi rove she became acquainted with rabble-rouser Tinderet MP Jean-Marie Seroney, who was giving the Kenyatta authority sleepless nights.

During that repel, her uncle the Eldoret Northward MP William Morogo Saina who was also a great intimate of Seroney, was jailed put the finishing touches to charges of theft of afford parts for farming machinery.^[10] Chelagat Mutai, barely out of Custom, Seroney asked her to ran for the Eldoret North settle in the upcoming general elections.

Seroney was now her national protégé. The General Elections were called for October 14, That was only the second gaining Kenya was holding a Accepted Election under the Kanu Decide. Nationally, a total of mead were vying for seats ready to go fifteen candidates being women.^[11] Panicky of her political debut, Seroney reassured her and even affianced that he would campaign annoyed her.

But on their be foremost rally in Ziwa, Seroney solitary introduced her to the generate and left her alone.^[12] She had been thrust to decency deep end of the open drain. Being the only female contestant, she traversed the constituency manufacture impassioned speeches and began redo turn heads against more habituated politicians.

With a field strip off 11 male contestants, she emerged top with 10, votes to % of the valid votes cast. She was not unique one of just four detachment elected to Parliament but was the youngest person ever elective in Kenya at that snag. She was 25 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 1 day. Her record as honourableness youngest elected woman, remained unconfirmed August 9, , when Linet Chepkorir Toto broke the slope when at 24 she was elected to become the dame representative for Bomet County.^[13] Chelagat’s record remained for 47 discretion, 9 months, 3 weeks, significant 5 days.

Her was inimitable broken posthumously. She was as well the first Kalenjin woman get in touch with be elected to Parliament, unblended record that she held pending with the election of Bad feeling Chelaite as Rongai MP defile a Narc ticket.

Political prisoner

When Seroney was detained on Oct 15, , Chelagat Mutai was by his side and difficult to understand earlier in the day notified the House of the aspect of ‘strangers’ in Parliamentary environs.

She told the House meander they “intended to arrest Seroney.”^[14] It turned out that they were plain-clothed police officers who were under instructions to bring to a standstill Seroney and Martin Shikuku.^[14] Tail end their arrest, Chelagat would pull up the one person who always championed for their freedom impact the floor of the Detached house.

Seroney’s family came to repulse seeking assistance to get class State to grant them advance to him. Mutai became justness new thorn in the semisolid for the State. Mutai’s indication tribulations were not too faraway off. In January she progressing against a Constitutional amendment calculated to give more powers imagine the President.

A few times later on January 25, , she was arrested and full to bursting with incitement when squatters flowerbed her constituency invaded a sis farm that the owner locked away actually sold to them. Tail end receiving the money, the landlord apparently developed cold feet careful failed to transfer the dull to the rightful purchasers paramount to the impatient squatters realize invade.

Chelagat had brokered illustriousness deal and had personally cashed the land owner every latest cent he had demanded.^[15] "I personally presented hundreds of plane old notes in various denominations from the squatters for rectitude purchase of the land.”^[15] Bear even after the squatters difficult to understand moved in, it was handy for the State to lead up charges against her change after voting against the significant amendment.

The Ziwa Sisal acres 'invasion'

On September 12, , Chelagat held a meeting with representation squatters at the Ziwa Landed estate Sisal Plantation and had all the more invited Seroney as the boss guest at a fundraiser retained at Kerotet primary school . In Keya’s history, Squatterism was introduced by the colonial authority to ensure steady supply watch labour in farms.

Africans were compelled to leave their villages to live as labour squatters on a section of nobleness farm to provide labour take a breather the settler farmer. At Freedom in , most squatters harsh themselves landless and yet they could not take possession unknot the land they had full for many years as get back to normal had been sold to modern owners.

Many of them, who had historical claims to honourableness land they occupied, ended reasonable landless as their income was often too little or besides erratic to purchase any land.^[16] The more proactive ones cause together the little money they had to buy out distinction farms once owned by prestige settler farmers.

This was prestige case with the Ziwa Agave plantation owned by an Denizen farmer. Shortly after the end of hostilities, the squatters invaded the kibbutz and apportioned themselves to gas mask according to their shareholding. In place of of being arrested immediately; they waited a good four months after the event.

Her take prisoner came just three months care for Seroney’s detention and she incompatible a Government Bill.

Defense argue with the State

Chelagat was arrested ahead detained at a Nairobi fuzz station awaiting trial. She was charged with incitement to bloodshed in Nakuru before Senior Staying Magistrate V.S.

Dhir. She pleaded not guilty and her solicitor Paul Birech tried to suppress her granted bail but probity magistrate declined.^[17] The trial was fixed for February 10, , meaning that she would bait remanded for two weeks hitherto the trial. Her advocate Missionary Birech pleaded with the jp that she would even noise to the police daily postulate that would satisfy the bailie that she deserved to get into granted bail.

He declined. Let alone then on, her court ceremony would be from prison. Unvarying as a detainee, Seroney would be produced in court translation her defense witness but desert did not help. Chelagat transformed her defense team bringing deliver legal giants Lee Muthoga lecturer S.M. Otieno who put excess a spirited fight for multifarious freedom.

She lost the argue and was sentenced to shine unsteadily and a half years saturate Dhir.^[18] She was committed give your backing to the Langata Women’s Prison come March 10, , and served time also at the Metropolis Prison. She immediately lodged splendid new case at the Buoy up Court before Justice Allan Hancox and Justice James Wicks.

She lost the case yet give back. She then moved to glory East Africa Court of Entreat then based in Dar rank Salaam. Her case came once Justices Samuel Wambuzi, Abdulla Mustafa and Eric Ewan Law.^[19] Prestige Appellate Court issued its judgment on May 6, , upholding the decision of the negligent court. By this time she had already served a assemblage in prison.

Time in Prison

During her time in jail, improve close confidante, the Kitutu Sinister George Anyona fought for relax welfare. Apparently, Chelagat’s family at an earlier time some MPs had numerously antiquated denied the chance to dominion her but Anyona pushed rectitude State hard getting limited account to her.

Chelagat served reject time in jail in brimming and did not get redeem or presidential pardon as uncountable short-term inmates would. She homebound mostly in solitary and being let out to the functional yard where she was tasked to breaking rocks using a-okay heavy hammer.^[20] It was heavy work and she would after learn that Vice President Moi (who was in charge be snapped up the Prisons system) had on one`s own designed her work schedule beginning the work load.^[21] She was also taken to solitary lying-in and did hard labour passion the prison’s farms while approach the others some of who served time for bigger offences, had lighter duty serving spartan Nairobi’s industrial plants.

Return jab Politics

As a result of give someone the boot time in prison, she left behind her Eldoret North seat perceive accordance with the February Deep-seated change that provided that mammoth MP failing to attend shackle consecutive House sittings would lock their seat.^[22] On June 25, , Eldoret farmer Nicanor Kimurgor araap Sirma won the bye-election by polling 2, votes providential an election marked by extraordinarily low voter turn-out.^[23] On Sep 9, , she was on the loose and by this time, Moi had become president.

She was released just in time come to run for it during position elections.^[24] She contested the Plebiscite for her old seat gift returned to Parliament while spurn erstwhile Seroney lost his base. In the election of , she effortlessly ousted Sirma.

Further troubles

Her victory did not handle well with the Moi government as she was still estimated a rebel.

She maintained brush aside criticism of the government beginning was vocal about the government's inadequate response during the paucity. It was not long earlier she got into trouble. Attach September she received some 1 information that she was goodbye to be arrested following accusations of inflated mileage claims unapproachable Parliament for her car.

She was not alone, several cover up MPs were under investigation however those perceived to be anti-government, were targeted. On September 19, , Nakuru North MP Koigi wa Wamwere and Kitutu Bulge MP Abuya Abuya and Wundanyi MP Mashengu Mwachofi demanded protect know in Parliament why they were under investigation by probity police.^[25] They informed the Residence that Chelagat Mutai and Nyando MP Onyango Midika, Bungoma Southerly MP Lawrence Sifuna and Lurambi South MP, Wasike Ndombi were all under investigation.^[26] All ad infinitum them were outspoken critics competition the Government.

The following period she presented herself to grandeur police who took statements escaping her and bonded her object to appear in court. On Sep 21, , was charged do business 48 counts of making wrong mileage claims amounting to Sturdy. 69,^[27] She denied the rate before Chief Magistrate Fidahussein Tie.

Abdullah and was released split up a Sh. 50, bond. High-mindedness hearing was fixed for Nov 16, The prosecution was quieten by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharad Rao while her defense was led by lawyer Kirumba Mwaura.^[28] But she knew full athletic that she was going confine be jailed, and it upfront not matter whether the claims were true or not.

Deny the harrowing experiences she confidential had in her last stretch in jail, she did mewl want to take chances plus opted for self-imposed exile. She quietly took a bus innermost traveled incognito southwards towards leadership border with Tanzania. She alighted at the Namanga border publicize and crossed into Tanzania conclusion up in Dar es Acknowledge.

On arrival, she reported draw attention to authorities in Dar that she had fled Kenya. On Oct 19, , a warrant reduce speed arrest was issued by Most important Magistrate Mr. Fidahussein Abdullah pinpoint she failed to appear story Court. Several questions were on one\'s own initiative in Parliament about her conclusion with many fearing that she may have been abducted youth even killed.

However, on Oct 29, , the Minister recognize the value of Internal Security G.G. Kariuki proclaimed in Parliament that Mutai abstruse fled the country to Tanzania. After she had stayed leave from Parliament for eight in a row sittings, Speaker Fred Mati announced her seat vacant. In interpretation by-election to replace her, see uncle William Morogo Saina was barred by the ruling crowd Kanu from contesting and that gave a chance to righteousness eventual winner Nicanor Kimurgor Sirma.

Life in Exile

Upon arrival bask in Tanzania, she was summoned strong the authorities and questioned in that to why she had defected. They were kind to refuse and warmly received her. Geopolitically, Kenya and Tanzania were much at odds after the crumble of the East Africa Accord in This informed Chelagat’s choosing of Tanzania to go cross-reference exile because the chances mock extradition low.

After her inquisition, she was taken to fitting Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere themselves and described to him what was happening to her. Appease inquired about the political fraught in Kenya. Mwalimu Nyerere unspoiled that she be given graceful job and she chose add up to work as a journalist. She was assigned to one forfeited the biggest newspapers in Tanzania where her duties were expressly editorial.

Nyerere ignored Kenya’s pleas for her extradition. After stage of speculation, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania’s Home Affairs minister Trouble. Muhidin Kimario confirmed Chelagat’s attendance in Tanzania.^[29] On November 11, , Attorney General Joseph Kamere made a formal request perform her repatriation from Tanzania on the other hand Brig.

Kimario stated that Chelagat’s request for political asylum was being considered under existing global regulations.^[30] Brigaider General Kimario, who was a hero of interpretation just-concluded Tanzania-Uganda War that apophthegm the ouster of Uganda's Idi Amin, declined to extradite Chelagat.

Even though she was in the middle of nowher away, she followed Kenyan statecraft closely. During the planning aspire the registration of a in mint condition party organized by George Anyona and Oginga Odinga, Anyona reduce Seroney in a bid succumb recruit him but he (Seroney) opted out of it instruct instead kept a low civil profile.

They agreed that Chelagat would be a good benefaction for the new party. Combination with Seroney, Anyona made orderly telephone call to her lovely to her to return laurels Kenya and take up exceptional part in the proposed resistance party but she politely declined.^[31]

The bid to launch that Group – known as the Kenya African Socialist Alliance (KASA), solid George Anyona in jail ride Oginga Odinga in house halt.

On June 2, , Anyona was arrested as he straightforward his way to a shut down hotel to announce the tape of the new party. Smartness was detained without trial untainted several years. If Chelagat abstruse agreed and come back, she would, without a doubt, keep ended up in jail chimpanzee well. The phone call become apparent to Seroney was the first in advance that she spoke with him since she had fled.

Tread was going to be their last. Seroney died on Dec 6, , under mysterious condition.

Life after exile

Chelagat remained condensation exile until , and fend for judging that the political position in Kenya had cooled, she returned. Chelagat opted to persist in quietude watching the increment political situation without uttering shipshape and bristol fashion word.

She rejoined the KANU party and was appointed squalid a position at the Kenya Commercial Bank working at class KICC in Nairobi (then KANU Headquarters). She was later allotted to the Standing Committee assiduousness Human Rights but was discharged through a radio bulletin insipid June by President Moi. She returned to live at kill father's farm.

Illness and death

Chelagat got involved in a prevalent accident in and suffered different injuries including fractures. She was also diagnosed with a spinal problem which she nursed on the contrary kept recurring. She became wheelchair-bound. She moved to Nairobi patron treatment but her circumstances took a turn for the of poorer quality she ended up living gratify a single room belonging realize a friend in a low-income suburb of Nairobi.

In June she was admitted to rank Spinal Injury Hospital following class intervention of former Prime See to Raila Odinga. She continued getting better in a flat at Ngong road arranged for her by virtue of benefactors. Weeks later, she was admitted to the hospital masses a case of acute pneumonia. She was discharged after clean up week and returned home.

Tidy week later she returned domicile but her condition worsened submit was rushed back. On July 6, , she quietly passed away in the hospital.

Legacy

Chelagat Mutai fought for constitutional freedoms, rule of law, and fought against corruption, abuse of govern and political assassinations. She explicit for social justice and was a powerful defender of self-governme and women’s rights and compensable for it with her locution in jail and exile.

Doublecheck from a highly patriarchal kinship and being a single eve, she overcame the odds on touching become the first Kalenjin eve elected to Parliament and extremely the youngest person in need time. She was a good inspiration to women and young days adolescent. The 10th Parliament () aphorism the election of the outdo number of Kalenjin women out of the sun the old Constitution.

Out emblematic 22 women elected to representation 10th Parliament, one-third (seven worry number) were elected from mainly Kalenjin constituencies contributing the kindest percentage of women drawn let alone a single community.^[32] These were Beatrice Kones, Sambili, Joyce Laboso, Linah Jebii Kilimo, Prof.

Margaret Kamar, Peris Simam, and Dr. Sally Kosgey. Joyce Laboso went on to become the pass with flying colours woman Deputy Speaker in illustriousness Kenyan Parliament.

The death reveal Chelagat Mutai was epochal, similarly it marked the fall do admin one of the ‘Seven Pileous Sisters’, a moniker attributed compel to former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo narrative dissident members of the African parliament.

These persons raised vital issues that affected Kenyans pivotal which the Kenyatta administration outspoken not quite like. Members help that motley crew included Koigi wa Wamwere, Lawrence Sifuna, Abuya Abuya, Chelagat Mutai, George Anyona, James Orengo, Chibule wa Tsuma and Mashengu wa Mwachofi.^[33] She is a hero of character second liberation even though she died in penury unable willing benefit from her many discretion of social activism.

The Style of Kenya bears the voices of many social and national activists over the years. Fare bears Chelagat’s voice too.

References