Wangari Maathai’s Divorce, The Story They Tried to Bury

By

-

March 6, 2026

Wangari Maathai with her husband Mwangi Maathai

Before the Nobel Prize, before the Green Belt Movement, Kenya’s courts, press, and patriarchy conspired to destroy her. They failed.

She is remembered as the Nobel Laureate who planted trees and toppled tyrants — the indomitable Wangari Maathai, whose courage reshaped Kenya’s landscape, literally and politically.

But before the prizes and the praise, before the world knew her name, Wangari endured a different kind of battle: a very public, very deliberate campaign by a former husband, a compliant press, and a patriarchal judicial system to strip her of her name, her career, her children, and her dignity. They nearly succeeded.

A Meeting at the Mission Station

When Wangari returned from the United States in 1966, having completed her Master’s degree, she arrived into a newly independent Kenya hungry for educated professionals. Discrimination on grounds of gender and ethnicity had cost her one opportunity already, but she found her footing as a research assistant at Nairobi University’s Department of Veterinary Anatomy.

Around the same time, a young man named Mwangi Mathai was courting her. He too had studied in America and had a businessman’s eye — he had helped Wangari’s sisters establish a shop in Eastleigh. They got engaged. Then, in 1967, a German professor offered her a chance to continue her doctoral research abroad. She took it, spending a period she would later describe with great fondness — her last stretch of life as a free, unencumbered woman. Mwangi wrote anxious letters urging her to come home and start a family.

She returned in 1969. In two ceremonies that reflected the beautiful duality of their lives — a traditional ceremony at her father’s farm in Nakuru, and an elegant English-style wedding — she married Mwangi Mathai. She was reluctant to take his surname, knowing it was a European convention grafted onto African elite life, but she relented. She even registered all but one of her properties in his name. That single retained property would, years later, save her from homelessness.

Wangari Maathai’s children in the 70s. Muta, Wanjira, and Waweru (left to right)

The Political Wife

Mwangi soon set his sights on the Parliamentary seat for Langata. In those years, a politician’s home was also his campaign headquarters — a revolving door of supporters, strategists, and well-placed gossips, all of whom expected to find a properly “African” wife presiding over the household.

Wangari saw the paradox with crystalline clarity. These men had adopted European dress, European religion, European surnames — and then depended entirely on their wives to perform an Africanness they had otherwise discarded. She wrote of it candidly in her autobiography, Unbowed:

“I was very conscious of the fact that a highly educated woman like me ran the risk of making her husband lose votes if I was accused of not being enough of an African woman… They were often surprised that I spoke Kikuyu, as well as Kiswahili and English, and that they were received warmly by a woman they knew was a lecturer at the University.” — Wangari Maathai, Unbowed

She played the role with remarkable grace — adjusting her wardrobe, welcoming visitors personally, making every caller feel honoured. Many came expecting a remote, Westernised academic and left charmed. Despite her efforts, Mwangi narrowly lost the 1969 election, 3,030 votes to his opponent’s 3,591. That same period brought better news: she delivered safely at Nairobi Hospital, and soon after became the first woman in East and Central Africa to receive a Doctorate degree.

Envirocare – The First Green Dream

When Mwangi ran again and won the Langata seat, Wangari had campaigned alongside him with three children in tow, including a newborn. Victory, however, revealed a troubling side of her husband. He had promised jobs to thousands of unemployed constituents. When she asked what he intended to do about those promises, his reply was dismissive: “That was the campaign. Now we are in Parliament.” And when she pressed further, he said simply: “Don’t worry. They won’t remember.”

Wangari could not let it rest. She designed a project she called Envirocare — unemployed residents of Langata would tend the gardens and lawns of wealthier households for a fair wage. It was an early, instinctive blueprint for the community-based environmental work she would later develop into the globally celebrated Green Belt Movement.

The Seeds of the Green Belt Movement

Envirocare failed — the wealthy clients didn’t pay upfront, Wangari covered costs from her own pocket, and a drought killed the seedlings she’d sourced from Karura Forest. But the essential idea — that environmental restoration could also be a tool for community employment and dignity — would survive and flourish. The Green Belt Movement, born from this same instinct, eventually planted over 51 million trees across Africa.

Mwangi contributed nothing to Envirocare and did not believe in it. Its collapse became a silent “I told you so” in a marriage already cracking at its foundations.

The Divorce – Stripped Naked in Public

The marriage had been eroding for years, corroded by political differences — Wangari supported the parliamentary probe into the assassination of activist J.M. Kariuki, while Mwangi, as a government MP, sat on the opposing side. Then in 1977, she came home from the University one ordinary afternoon to find the house empty. He had packed up and gone.

In 1979, Mwangi filed for divorce. Rather than handle proceedings privately, he made them public — ensuring that everything would be dissected by the Kenyan press. Under the colonial-era divorce law still in force, grounds required cruelty, insanity, or adultery. Mwangi accused Wangari of adultery, and attributed his high blood pressure to her cruelty. The three-week case felt, she later wrote, like years.

Wangari Maathai's Divorce, The Story They Tried to Bury — Wangari Maathai’s Divorce, The Story They Tried to Bury

Day after day, newspapers recounted the court details. The press reported that Mwangi sought divorce on grounds that she was “too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn, and too hard to control.”

Wangari later said she never heard those exact words from Mwangi directly and suspected the press had embellished freely — but the damage was done. She was being made a public example: a woman who had put her career above her husband’s comfort, and was now being punished for it.

She lost the case. Then came a further twist: a letter from Mwangi’s lawyer informing her she was no longer permitted to use his surname. The same man who had insisted she take his name now ordered her to relinquish it. In a small act of defiant creativity, she added a second ‘a’ to “Mathai.” She became Maathai. A name no one could take from her.

Contempt of Court – The Woman Who Refused to Apologise

A week after the ruling, she gave an interview to Salim Lone, editor of Viva magazine. She said what most people only whispered: that the evidence used against her was hearsay, and that the only way a judge could have upheld it was if he were incompetent and corrupt.

The judge was furious. Attorney General Charles Njonjo ordered her to retract and apologise immediately. Her response was characteristically unrepentant:

“It has been suggested that I should apologise even if I think I am right. In my school days they taught me that honesty is the best policy. I would be dishonest if I were to say that my divorce case was handled competently and honestly.”

— Wangari Maathai, 1979

She was charged with contempt of court alongside Salim Lone. Lone was given a choice: six months in prison or a 40,000-shilling fine. Wangari was given no such option. She was arrested on the spot and taken to Lang’ata Women’s Prison, where her braids were cut off and she was put into uniform.

Three days in those conditions — her mind consumed with worry for her young children — before lawyers and friends applied enough pressure to secure her release. She walked out, famously, with a smile on her face.

Key Dates in Wangari Maathai’s Early Life

1966 – Returns from US with a Master’s degree; takes up research post at Nairobi University
1969 – Marries Mwangi Mathai in dual ceremonies. First child born. Narrowly loses Langata seat alongside her husband.
1971 – Becomes the first woman in East and Central Africa to receive a Doctorate degree
1974 – Envirocare collapses. Marriage deteriorates further over political differences.
1977 – Mwangi leaves without warning. Wangari founds the Green Belt Movement.
1979 – Divorce is finalised publicly. She is imprisoned for contempt of court — and walks out smiling. Adds an ‘a’ to her name: Maathai.
2004 –Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize — the first African woman to receive it.
2011 – Dies of ovarian cancer. Mwangi Mathai escorts her hearse — a final, quiet reconciliation.

The Tree That Would Not Fall

The divorce and its aftermath cost Wangari her job at the University of Nairobi and the home she had shared with her family. Since she had registered nearly all her properties under Mwangi’s name, she was left with almost nothing — almost. One small house in South C, held prudently in her own name, remained. She moved in and, from that modest base, built the Green Belt Movement into one of the most consequential environmental organisations in African history.

The patriarchal machinery that had tried to reduce her — the estranged husband, the compliant press, the biased courtroom, the Attorney General, the prison — had instead forged someone unbreakable. Every humiliation had been a test, and she had passed each one without once surrendering her essential self.

Mwangi Mathai escorting Wangari’s remains after her death in 2011

In 2004, the Nobel Committee awarded Wangari Maathai the Peace Prize — the first African woman to receive it. In 2011, she died of ovarian cancer. At her funeral, Mwangi Mathai, the man who had tried to erase her, escorted her hearse. It was, perhaps, his most honest acknowledgement of who she had always been.

“She added an extra letter to his name and made it her own — because her story would always be larger than the man who tried to end it.”

WANGARI MAATHAI · 1940–2011 · NOBEL LAUREATE

The Woman Erased from Power: The Hidden Life of Lena Moi, Kenya’s Forgotten First Lady

By

Kibet Tobias

-

March 6, 2026

0

The Hidden Life of Lena Moi, Kenya's Forgotten First Lady

A Stranger at Her Own Children’s Weddings

For twenty-four years, as Daniel arap Moi ruled Kenya with an iron fist, his ex-wife Helena — known to all as Lena — barely existed in the public eye. She watched her own children’s church weddings not from the front pew, but from a television set in her modest home in Eldama Ravine, as a stranger might. No invitation. No acknowledgement. As if she had never been.

It was a remarkable erasure — all the more so because Lena Moi had once been a woman who loved public life. In the 1960s and 70s, she regularly graced official occasions, sometimes alone, sometimes on the arm of the man who would become one of Africa’s most consequential leaders. She had opinions, presence, and ambition of her own.

Then, around mid-1974, she vanished. The marriage had collapsed. By 1979 — just months after Moi was sworn in as President following the death of Jomo Kenyatta — the divorce was formalised, and Lena retreated into near-total invisibility. Security agents monitored her home. She channelled her days into church work. The woman who had helped shape a future president became, in official Kenya, nobody at all.

Two Young People, One Mission Station

To understand Lena, you have to go back to a red-earthed mission station in Eldama Ravine — and to a lanky, orphaned boy who turned up seeking shelter and an education. Daniel Toroitich arap Moi had grown up 160 kilometres away, in Sacho, Baringo. His father, Kimoi arap Chebii, had died in 1928 when Daniel was just four years old. His elder brother Tuitoek became his guardian, and in 1934 young Moi was among the herdboys recommended to attend the new Africa Inland Mission school at Kabartonjo.

The Mission had been established by Albert Barnett, an Australian who had left his homeland in 1907, convinced God was calling him to Kenya. He settled first among the Tugen near what is today Kabarnet — a town that would eventually bear a version of his name — before moving to Eldama Ravine.

The Barnett family became the lodestar around which Moi’s early life orbited. Students rose at 6am to work in the gardens and haul water. Afternoons were spent with Barnett’s Swedish wife, Elma, learning numbers. The young Moi became the mission’s Sunday school teacher, and by 1942 he was school captain, with Paul and Erik Barnett — the missionary’s sons — as his peers.

Into this world came Helena Bomett — Lena — born in 1926, daughter of Paul Bomett, a pioneering African Inland Church elder. She and her siblings William and Dina were among the earliest AIM converts; together, the group of young believers would tour local churches, singing hymns and preaching the Gospel. It was in this context — amid faith, music, and shared mission — that Moi and Lena fell in love.

A Marriage of Heifers and Hope

By the time Moi returned from Kagumo Teachers College, he had been recommended for a teaching post at Tambach through the good offices of Moses Mudavadi — father of a man who would later serve as Moi’s own vice president, Musalia Mudavadi. He was known in the community as a teacher and a preacher, dependable, devout, and rising.

In 1950, Moi married Lena in a ceremony conducted by Reverend Erik Barnett at the AIC mission in Eldama Ravine. The bride price was two heifers, one ox, and four sheep, paid to the Bomett family. His long-time friend Francis Cherogony stood as best man. Paul Barnett himself later baptised Lena and helped Moi build his first house.

Those who knew Moi in those years imagined a future for him in the church — perhaps a preacher in the mould of his Barnett mentors. But he was drawn more powerfully to teaching. Lena left her own teaching career to raise their family at Tambach Government School, where their first two children, Jennifer and Jonathan Kipkemboi, were born in 1952 and 1953. Friends who visited described a household that was warm, ordered, and deeply religious — Moi never missed a Sunday service.

“I owe her much of my success in the service of my people and my country. She has always been an encouraging factor in all aspects of my political life.”

— Daniel arap Moi, 1967

Politics Changes Everything

The quiet domestic life changed abruptly in 1955, when colonial authorities appointed Moi to the Legislative Council as representative for the Rift Valley, replacing an inefficient predecessor. He bought a Land Rover, opened a posho mill in south Baringo, and began crisscrossing the vast region. The family traded their school compound in Tambach for Nairobi. Suits and ties replaced shorts and long socks. The children were photographed alongside a remarkably well-groomed, handsome man — already a different figure from the mission schoolteacher.

For Lena, the elevation was not without complications. The Bomett family’s relationship with Moi was not always smooth. In 1961, her brother Eric Bomett stood against Moi as an independent candidate in the general election — a contest Moi’s KADU party won convincingly over KANU. “It was not personal. It was a matter of principle,” Eric would later say. He eventually entered Parliament as a Specially Elected Member on a KANU ticket, but the family fracture had begun.

Yet as late as 1967, a profile of Lena painted a picture of a devoted and contented woman. She told journalist Faraj Dumila that children needed to be raised by their own mothers to grow up healthy in mind and body. Dumila noted that she was equally dedicated to her husband, who ate outside the home only when necessary and valued her cooking.

Disappearance and Silence

What happened between 1967 and 1974 remains largely opaque. Moi moved out to his farm at Kabarak. Lena remained at Eldama Ravine. He raised their children without her — and when those children married, he ensured she was absent from the celebrations. No explanation was ever given publicly. No statement. No acknowledgement of any kind.

The divorce was finalised in 1979. By then, Moi was president of Kenya, one of the most powerful men in East Africa. Lena, who had been there at the very beginning — who had married him when he was a schoolteacher with a Land Rover and a posho mill — was an official non-person.

The silence endured until her death. Even then, there was a final indignity: plans had been made to bury Lena at her Eldama Ravine home. At the last minute, Moi intervened and had her interred at Kabarak — the farm she had never slept at. Even in death, she was moved without her consent to a place that was his, not hers.

A Legacy Quietly Reclaimed

History remembers Moi — for his longevity in power, his authoritarian grip, his complex legacy. It has been slower to remember Lena. Yet she was there for the formative years: the mission station education, the early faith, the humble marriage ceremony, the first children, the first political campaigns. She was the steady domestic centre around which Moi’s public ambition expanded.

That Moi himself credited her publicly — “I owe her much of my success” — makes the subsequent erasure all the more striking. The reasons remain unknown. No official account exists. What we are left with is the outline of a woman who was essential to one chapter of Kenyan history and then, as that history grew larger, was quietly written out of it.

At the African Inland Church in Eldama Ravine — where a young Helena Bomett once sang hymns and caught the eye of an orphan boy from Sacho — people still remember her. That may be the truest memorial she has.

Based on historical research into the life of Daniel arap Moi and the Bomett family of Eldama Ravine.

President William Ruto Condemns Iran Over Middle East Strikes, Calls for Urgent De-escalation

By

admin 2025

-

March 2, 2026

0

President William Ruto Condemns Iran Over Middle East Strikes, Calls for Urgent De-escalation

President William Samoei Ruto has strongly condemned Iran following reported strikes targeting several countries in the Middle East, warning that the escalating conflict poses a serious threat to global peace and security.

In a firm statement, Ruto said Kenya “strongly condemns the strikes on the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain in the evolving conflict in the Middle East.”

The President expressed concern that the widening scope of the confrontation risks destabilising the broader region, noting that the regionalisation of the conflict carries grave implications for international stability.

“It is evident that the regionalisation of this conflict poses a grave threat to international peace and security,” he said, describing the current situation as a defining and perilous moment in global history.

Ruto underscored the importance of multilateral diplomacy, emphasising that established international institutions remain critical in resolving complex geopolitical crises. He said longstanding multilateral frameworks must play a central role in managing tensions and preventing further escalation.

“At this defining and perilous moment in global history, longstanding multilateral institutions remain indispensable frameworks for the resolution of the current crisis in the Middle East,” the President stated.

Kenya has now called for urgent, inclusive dialogue involving multiple stakeholders to halt the rising tensions. According to Ruto, coordinated diplomatic engagement is essential to de-escalate the conflict and safeguard international peace.

“Kenya calls for urgent multi-stakeholder engagement towards de-escalation,” he added.

Kenya has consistently advocated for peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, aligning its foreign policy with principles of international law and collective security.

Top international entrepreneur sues police officials over alleged arbitrary detention

By

Kibet Tobias

-

February 25, 2026

0

Top international entrepreneur Vasundhara Oswal sues police officials over alleged arbitrary detention

The High Court of Uganda has been petitioned in a landmark human rights case filed by 27-year-old global industrialist Vasundhara Oswal, who accuses senior security officials of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and inhumane treatment stemming from her October 2024 incarceration.

In court documents submitted in Kampala, Oswal — executive director of PRO Industries and Oswal Group Global — alleges she was held for 21 days without evidence, despite a court release order, in violation of constitutional guarantees and international human rights law.

The petition names several high-ranking officers within the Uganda Police Force, including Assistant Inspector General of Police and Interpol Director Joseph Obwona and former Commissioner of Police for Interpol Allison Agaba. Also cited are Joseph Kyomuhendo, head of the Human Trafficking Division in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), police detective Thomas Bbale, CID officer Annette Karungi, and a former employee, Santosh Dwibhashi.

According to the filing, Oswal was detained for three weeks without formal evidence being presented and was allegedly denied access to legal counsel and medication. The petition further claims she was subjected to degrading treatment, including being forced to kneel and strip in front of officers, and was deprived of basic necessities such as food, water and hygiene facilities.

Her legal team, the international firm Volterra Fietta, described the case as “an egregious breach of both Ugandan legislation and international human rights law,” stating that the petition seeks accountability and systemic reform rather than confrontation.

Constitutional and international law claims

The petition argues that her detention violated Article 23 of Uganda’s Constitution, which safeguards personal liberty, and Article 24, which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It also cites Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on protection against arbitrary detention.

In addition, Oswal alleges that judicial orders authorising her release were disregarded, raising concerns about the enforcement of court decisions and the integrity of due process. The petition also seeks the return of personal property, including jewellery and bond money amounting to $200,000, which it says has not been returned despite repeated requests to the ODPP.

The family had separately petitioned the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to review Uganda’s handling of the matter.

Investment climate implications and ongoing commitment

Oswal, described in the release as one of the youngest female industrial leaders operating in Africa’s bioethanol sector, said she was confident that the judiciary would uphold the rule of law and hold those responsible accountable.

“Our investment in PRO Industries reflects our long-term confidence in Uganda,” she said in the statement, adding that she retains faith in the judiciary to uphold investor rights.

However, the petition underscores potential reputational risks for the country. Oswal warned that the case could be interpreted negatively by foreign investors, particularly from India, who have historically approached Uganda’s market with caution.

She also emphasised, “It’s important that the court addresses the conduct of the individuals involved and reaffirms that this matter does not reflect a failure of the system itself, but rather the actions of a limited number of individuals. We have full faith in Uganda’s judiciary to safeguard international investors and to reinforce our commitment to continued investment in the country’s development.”

The statement also expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni, who visited the PRO Industries plant in late 2025, signalling, as the family described it, ongoing presidential support for the company’s industrialisation efforts.

Relief sought

The petition calls for the prosecution of officials involved in what it terms an unlawful arrest and detention; a formal declaration that her constitutional rights were violated; compensation for psychological and reputational harm; and restitution of confiscated assets.

The case now places Uganda’s judiciary under scrutiny as it weighs serious allegations against senior security officials.

Neither the Uganda Police Force nor the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had publicly responded to the allegations at the time of filing.

As proceedings commence at the High Court, the outcome is likely to resonate beyond the personal grievance of a single investor, testing Kampala’s assurances on judicial independence, investor protection and the rule of law at a time when the country is actively courting foreign capital into its energy and manufacturing sectors.

Kenya, UK Reaffirm Strong Ties as Ruto Hosts Duchess of Edinburgh

By

admin 2025

-

February 25, 2026

0

President William Ruto on Tuesday held talks with Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, the Duchess of Edinburgh, at State House Nairobi, reaffirming the strong diplomatic and economic ties between Kenya and the United Kingdom.

The meeting underscored the longstanding relations between the two nations, with both leaders committing to deepen cooperation under the renewed 2025–2030 Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership framework.

Expanding Trade and Investment

President Ruto said the refreshed partnership will prioritize expanding trade, attracting new investments and strengthening collaboration in key sectors that drive economic growth and job creation.

He noted that Kenya and the UK will work to unlock fresh investment opportunities, particularly in flagship infrastructure projects such as the Nairobi Railway City. The transformative development is expected to modernize urban mobility in the capital while stimulating commercial activity and investment.

Ruto emphasized that the government remains committed to creating a conducive environment for business and investment, positioning Kenya as a competitive destination for international capital.

Kenya, UK Reaffirm Strong Ties as Ruto Hosts Duchess of Edinburgh

Strengthening Green Growth and Security Cooperation

Beyond trade and infrastructure, the two countries agreed to enhance collaboration in green growth initiatives. These include climate action, clean energy development and broader sustainable development goals.

The leaders also pledged to reinforce security cooperation to promote regional stability and safeguard shared strategic interests.

Growing Trade Volumes

Trade between Kenya and the UK continues to show steady growth, delivering mutual economic benefits. In 2025, Kenya exported goods worth Sh243 billion to the UK, compared to imports valued at Sh133 billion — resulting in a favourable trade balance for Kenya.

President Ruto described the strong performance as a clear indication of the UK’s importance as one of Kenya’s key economic partners.

Deepening Bilateral Engagement

The visit by the Duchess of Edinburgh reflects deepening bilateral engagement between the two countries as they seek to broaden cooperation across trade, investment, climate action and development.

With the renewed strategic partnership now in place, both Kenya and the UK signaled their intention to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible economic opportunities that benefit their citizens.

Kenyan CEOs Express Strong Confidence in 2026 Growth Outlook

By

Kibet Tobias

-

February 23, 2026

0

Chief executive officers across Kenya are projecting improved business performance in 2026, citing a more stable economic climate marked by easing inflation and a relatively steady shilling.

Findings from the latest survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) show that corporate leaders are encouraged by falling lending rates, expectations of favourable weather, and sustained public investment in infrastructure.

Earlier this month, the CBK reduced its benchmark lending rate to 8.75 per cent, down from 9 per cent, as part of efforts to stimulate private sector borrowing amid improving macroeconomic fundamentals and exchange rate stability.

The rate adjustment followed a slight decline in inflation, which edged down to 4.4 per cent last month from 4.5 per cent in December 2025, reinforcing confidence that price pressures remain under control.

According to the survey, business optimism is largely anchored on growing demand within key service industries such as professional services, financial services, hospitality and ICT. Expansion into new customer segments—particularly through digital marketing strategies—has also contributed to the upbeat sentiment.

The poll, conducted between January 12 and 23, 2026, gathered views from CEOs of private sector firms, including members of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).

Despite the generally positive outlook, executives highlighted persistent hurdles, notably high operating expenses and intense market competition.

The report further indicated that wholesale and retail trade remains subdued due to weak consumer spending. Meanwhile, growth in the health sector continues to face headwinds stemming from mounting pending bills and transitional challenges associated with the rollout of the new health insurance scheme, which has slowed activity across the industry.

Gospel Star Jimmy Gait Hospitalised After Being Attacked By Robbers in Runda

By

admin 2025

-

February 23, 2026

0

Gospel Star Jimmy Gait Hospitalised After Being Attacked By Robbers in Runda

Renowned gospel artist James Ngaita, widely known as Jimmy Gait, is recovering in hospital after surviving a violent robbery incident on Sunday morning.

The attack occurred at around 10 a.m. on February 22 in Runda. News of the incident was shared by fellow gospel entertainer DJ Mo, who confirmed that Gait had been assaulted by armed thugs and robbed of his phone.

In a social media post, DJ Mo called on fans to pray for the singer and cautioned the public against any potential misuse of his stolen device.

“Very sad manze. Guys, let’s pray for @jimmygaitofficial. He was brutally attacked by thugs this morning at around 10 a.m. around Runda. His phone was taken. Be aware of any exploitation because they took his phone. Now receiving treatment at St. Teresa Thindigua,” he wrote, sharing a video of the injured musician.

The video showed a shaken and bloodied Jimmy Gait recounting the terrifying ordeal. He revealed that the attackers severely injured his hands during the assault.

“They have hurt me so badly. They’ve cut my fingers and my hand is cut,” Gait said. “It is only by God’s grace that I have survived. I saw death with my own eyes.”

The incident has sparked widespread concern online, with fans and fellow celebrities expressing sympathy and alarm over rising insecurity.

Media personality Willy Tuva wrote, “Pole sana Jimmy. Insecurity is now getting out of hand,” while entertainer Silva Mistarish added, “Prayers up @jimmygaitofficial pole sana.”

Jimmy Gait, born James Ngaita, rose to national fame with his breakout hit “Muhadhara.” Over the years, he has cemented his place as one of Kenya’s most influential gospel musicians with popular songs such as “Hurai,” “Appointment,” and “Kuna Day.”

Celebrated for blending contemporary urban sounds with uplifting spiritual messages, he has remained a household name in Kenya’s gospel scene for more than a decade.

Tourism Fund Launches Upskilling Program to Boost Hotel Management in Kenya

By

admin 2025

-

February 23, 2026

0

Tourism Fund Launches Upskilling Program to Boost Hotel Management in Kenya

The Tourism Fund has launched an upskilling program aimed at enhancing professional capacity in Kenya’s tourism sector, equipping hotel managers and staff with practical knowledge in staff management, financial planning, and operational efficiency.

Industry players have welcomed the initiative, highlighting tangible benefits for business operations.

“The upskilling programme by the Tourism Fund has been very impactful for us as hotel managers here in Kiambu County. It has equipped us with practical knowledge on staff management and financial planning, helping us run our hotels more professionally and efficiently,” said Geofrey Njuguna, Manager at Hotel Saape.

The Tourism Fund emphasized its commitment to expanding access to quality training and capacity-building programs, aiming to strengthen Kenya’s tourism sector and promote inclusive economic growth.

Program highlights include practical training in hotel and staff management, financial planning for improved operational efficiency and inclusive capacity-building opportunities for tourism professionals across Kenya.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts by the Tourism Fund to foster professional development, service quality, and competitiveness within Kenya’s hospitality industry.

All you need to Know about Charles Kanjama, the new LSK President

By

admin 2025

-

February 20, 2026

0

Charles Kanjama (born 17 November 1977) is a distinguished Kenyan Advocate, legal scholar, and the newly elected President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

At 49 years old, he stands out as one of Kenya’s most respected legal minds, widely recognized for his balanced, incisive, and accessible legal commentary across mainstream media platforms.

Early Life and Education

Kanjama’s academic journey reflects a deep commitment to excellence and multidisciplinary expertise.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (Hons) from the University of Nairobi, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. Currently, he is further advancing his scholarship as a Master of Laws (LL.M) student at the University of Nairobi.

His professional and academic qualifications extend beyond traditional legal training:

Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
Certified Public Secretary – CPS(K)
Certified Public Accountant – CPA(K)
Higher Diploma (IMIS) – Institute for the Management of Information Systems
Alumnus of Strathmore School

This rare blend of law, governance, finance, and information systems expertise has shaped his reputation as an “all-rounded” legal professional.

Legal Career

Called to the Bar in 2003 after completing his articles of pupilage at Kibet & Co. Advocates, Kanjama quickly established himself in Kenya’s legal landscape.

He worked as:

Advocate/Associate at Ochieng’, Onyango, Kibet and Ohaga Advocates
Editor and Legal Manager at Law Africa Publishing Ltd

In 2006, he co-founded Muma & Kanjama Advocates (MK Advocates) alongside Andrew Muma. Today, he serves as the Managing Partner and heads the Tax and Litigation Department, leading complex constitutional, tax, commercial, and public law matters.

His legal commentary is frequently sought by Kenyan media houses, particularly during high-stakes constitutional moments such as Presidential Election Petitions before the Supreme Court of Kenya, where he often appears on expert panels dissecting legal arguments and constitutional implications.

Leadership and Governance Roles

Beyond private practice, Kanjama has played a significant role in public service and institutional governance:

President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK)
Former LSK Council Member and Treasurer
Convenor, LSK Constitutional Implementation and Law Reform Committee
Non-Executive Director, Pacis Insurance Co. Ltd
Convenor, Audit Risk and Governance Committee (Pacis Insurance)
Board Member, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Chair of the Technical Committee
Vice-Chair, Kenya Christian Professionals Forum
Trust Administrator, Strathmore Educational Trust

His leadership style is often described as principled, analytical, and reform-driven, particularly in matters of constitutional governance and legal accountability.

Academic and Teaching Contributions

Kanjama is deeply invested in legal education. He lectures at:

Strathmore Business School (SBS)
Strathmore Law School (SLS)

His teaching portfolio includes:

Legal Systems
Criminal Law
Healthcare Law
Human Resource Law

His role as a lecturer complements his litigation and policy work, allowing him to bridge theory and practice while mentoring the next generation of Kenyan lawyers.

Publications and Scholarship

An accomplished author and editor, Kanjama has made significant contributions to Kenyan legal literature.

He has:

Co-authored Family Law Digest: Matrimonial Property
Written widely on Constitutional Law, Tax Law, and Matrimonial Property
Published academic papers on Legal Ethics, Media Law, and Political Governance
Contributed extensively to discussions on Environmental Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, and Civil Procedure

His newspaper columns and media contributions have helped demystify complex legal issues for the public, reinforcing his standing as a public intellectual in the legal sphere.

Legacy and Influence

With over eighteen years of experience, Charles Kanjama embodies a rare combination of advocate, academic, corporate leader, and public policy thinker. As LSK President, his career trajectory suggests a continued focus on constitutionalism, law reform, professional standards, and strengthening the rule of law in Kenya.

Through courtroom advocacy, boardroom governance, classroom teaching, and media engagement, he has established himself as one of Kenya’s most influential contemporary legal voices.

A Brilliant Mind, A Long Battle: The Story of Dorothy Nasimiyu Muoma

By

admin 2025

-

February 20, 2026

0

https://www.ibanet.org/document?id=Images_2021_Awards_Beth_mich

When news broke of Dorothy Nasimiyu Muoma’s death, much of the public reaction centered on the painful images that circulated online. But those images captured only a fragment of her story. Behind them was a woman of intellect, discipline, and determination — someone who pursued excellence even as her health steadily challenged her path.

Raised in Discipline, Driven by Education

Born on December 1, 1971, at Lang’ata Barracks, Dorothy grew up in a structured environment shaped by service and order. She was the second-born in a large family of ten children, raised by the late Lukas and Rose Muoma.

From an early age, her academic focus stood out. She moved through several primary schools, adapting quickly to new environments, before completing her KCPE in 1985. Her strong performance opened doors to secondary education at Moi Nairobi Girls Secondary School, where she completed her KCSE in 1989.

While many students of her generation pursued local university education, Dorothy chose a bold path. In 1991, she travelled to India to study law — a major decision at a time when overseas study was less common. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree in 1996 and began postgraduate studies shortly after. Her trajectory pointed clearly toward a distinguished legal future.

The Turning Point

In early 1997, while still abroad, Dorothy was involved in an accident that left her with fractured feet. The physical injuries required her to return home for treatment. But the greater shift in her life came during recovery.

It was around this period that she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a chronic mental health condition that affects perception, thought patterns, and emotional regulation. The diagnosis altered the rhythm of her life. Medication became essential. Stability required vigilance. Interruptions in treatment carried consequences.

Yet even in the face of this life-changing reality, Dorothy did not abandon her ambitions.

A Lawyer Against the Odds

In 1999, she enrolled at the Kenya School of Law, determined to complete what she had started years earlier. In 2003, she achieved a milestone she had worked tirelessly toward — she was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Colleagues recall her as knowledgeable and composed in professional settings. She worked in private practice for several years before joining the Attorney General’s office under the NALEP programme in 2010. As an Assistant Registrar in Kisumu, she handled responsibilities that demanded precision and accountability.

But chronic illness rarely follows a predictable script. Periodic relapses and medical challenges disrupted her professional momentum. By 2014, her health had cost her her role.

In 2016, she attempted once more to rebuild — establishing Lukas Muoma and Associates. It was an act of resilience and perhaps quiet defiance. However, sustaining a law firm requires consistent engagement, something her health increasingly made difficult.

Living With an Invisible Illness

Schizophrenia remains one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. It requires lifelong management, consistent medication, and strong social support. When treatment is interrupted, symptoms can resurface with intensity.

Over the years, Dorothy experienced multiple hospital admissions. Each episode represented not failure, but the harsh reality of managing a chronic condition within social and professional systems that are often ill-equipped to offer sustained support.

Her later years were marked by additional physical health complications, including recurring low haemoglobin levels that left her physically vulnerable.

The Final Chapter

In January 2026, Dorothy was admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital with severe sepsis affecting her left leg. Though initial treatment showed promise, her overall health remained fragile.

On February 3, while still hospitalised, she requested food and medication to ease nausea. She rested while waiting. When she awoke, her condition deteriorated rapidly. Medical teams attempted resuscitation, but despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at 8 pm.

Her passing was quiet — but the conversations that followed were not.

More Than a Viral Moment

It is easy for a life to be reduced to a final photograph or a tragic headline. But Dorothy’s life was far more layered.

She was a daughter raised in a disciplined household.
A young woman who crossed continents in pursuit of legal education.
An advocate who earned her place at the Bar.
A professional who continued working despite a demanding medical condition.

Her story highlights not only personal resilience but also the gaps in how society supports individuals living with chronic mental illness — especially high-achieving professionals expected to remain perpetually strong.

Dorothy Nasimiyu Muoma’s journey was not linear. It was marked by brilliance, interruption, rebuilding, and endurance. And while her struggles were visible in her later years, so too was her determination to keep trying.

In remembering her, the focus may gradually shift from the distressing images to the fuller truth: a capable lawyer whose greatest battle was one few could see — and one she fought for decades.