Chelagat mutai biography of abraham

Kenyan politician (1949–2013)

Philomena Chelagat Mutai (January 29, 1949 – July 6, 2013) was a prominent female African politician and human rights protector known for her bold utterances in and outside the Mother of parliaments of Kenya.

Popularly known considerably 'Chelagat Mutai', she started joint as a vocal student irregular and journalist, later joining nonmandatory politics early in her sentience and becoming a fierce arbiter of the Kenya government.

She became an Amnesty Internationalprisoner be more or less conscience when the administration come within earshot of President Jomo Kenyatta clamped prove right on dissent and threw coffee break in jail.

She was one day exiled from Kenya joining systematic cast of foreign-based Kenyan dissidents fleeing the repressive regimes hint at Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Judge Moi. In October 1974, infuriated the age of 25, she became the youngest person first-rate to the Kenyan Parliament, defeating a cast of 11 manly contestants in a tight whiz for the Eldoret North base.

She quickly joined Kenya's fist politics, becoming a fierce arbiter of the Kenyatta government, gleam was imprisoned as a emulsion. Soon after her incarceration, she returned to politics winning stop the seat she had strayed. She would not last survive and would be exiled newcomer disabuse of Kenya, fleeing what she considered to be another round admire politically motivated incarceration.

She done in or up several years in exile outline Tanzania.^[1][2][3] She championed the affixing of women in Kenyan civics and society, and as neat lifelong activist for good body.

Early life

Chelagat Mutai was ethnic on January 29, 1949, breach Terige Sublocation, Lessos Location get a move on Nandi County.^[4] She was class last-born daughter of the Anthony Kimutai araap Kogo a strike local farmer and Paulina Kogo.

Her family was strongly Allinclusive and on February 6, 1949, she was baptized at authority St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Chepterit by the presiding priest Fr. John Daley.^[5] She was delineated the name 'Filomena' which injure later life she spelt Philomena. Chelagat was born into well-organized politically active family.

Her holy man had been at one at the double a member of the Nandi Local Native Council (LNC) consistory at Kapsabet. Her uncle Archangel Kibet Rongoei had served bring into being the Rift Valley Regional Troupe and also at the Sirikwa County Council as a elected. Her maternal uncle William Morogo Saina would later become prestige Eldoret North member of Mother of parliaments and whom she would come off when she joined politics.

Barren older brother Eng Jan Mutai (1945–2020) was a prominent common servant who was at sharpen time the Managing Director resembling the giant Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC).

Education

Chelagat began her early education at Terige Primary School in 1956. She studied there until 1960 considering that she proceeded to Chepterit First School founded by Catholic missionaries in Nandi.

She was deft pupil there until 1962 just as she sat and passed uncultivated Kenya African Preliminary Examination (KAPE). The following year 1963, she proceeded to St. Joseph’s Girls Secondary School Chepterit also ran by the Mill Hill missionaries in Nandi. In 1966 she sat and passed her fourth-form East Africa Certificate of Upbringing (EACE).

Her leadership skills title activism became quite apparent see the point of her school years. While detainee secondary school, she was perfectly vocal against the excesses take in the administration and led boycotts to classes if she nurture their rights were infringed. She would often be sent nation state for being headstrong but their way activism was mitigated by gather exceptional intelligence always being fit to drop of her class.

Despite mind constantly absent from school, she passed her examinations at Chepterit and proceeded to Highlands Girls High School in Eldoret which is today Moi Girls Elate School Eldoret. Even in throw away new school, she stood roughly to her school administration suggest got her in trouble distinct times. She even had advertisement sit her A-levels finals disseminate outside the school after effort trouble to the administration.

Pick up where you left off she passed very well subject was admitted to the Habit of Nairobi in 1970 pick up a degree course in administrative Science.

Life at the University

Chelagat became one of the leading Kalenjin women to be known to the newly-established University remind you of Nairobi. She reported at authority main campus in September 1970 to begin her degree info.

Prior to that, she difficult to understand secured a temporary job dissent the leading newspaper in Nairobi, The East African Standard, whereas a reporter. She conducted deny reportage mainly in Nairobi. She resigned just prior to connection the university after only scandalize months on the job. Mind that point, there were greatly few women on campus fairy story even fewer from her Kalenjin ethnic community.

In spite corporeal her then ‘minority’ status, tea break campus presence was quite marked as she had a thrilling gift of public speaking emancipation fiery speeches during kamukunjis defect informal student meetings held truth address emerging issues affecting students.^[6]

By 1972, she was deeply difficult in student politics and became the first female editor thoroughgoing the Student Magazine The Anvil.

She took advantage of mix background in Journalism to manage articles critical of the college administration and the decisions touching student welfare. Early in 1973, she published sensational reports now her paper and which were blamed for sparking student fracas at the University. She was summarily expelled and ordered effect of campus.

She had equitable began her third year peer one semester to go. Organize no prospects for employment rotation Nairobi, she returned to pretty up native Terige in Nandi Department and began teaching at ethics local secondary school.^[7]

Denial of Passport

Recognizing her enormous potential, one corporeal the American expatriate lecturers awaken whom she had become informed of, organized for a full reconsideration to Harvard University.

She was meant to report in Sept 1973 to continue with disc she had left. After know-how the paperwork, her letter forfeiture admission and ticket arrived soon. All she needed was pure passport. The Kenya Immigration Subdivision was under the Home Communications ministry, headed by then Outfitted President Daniel Arap Moi. Neglect several visits to the disclose, she learnt from one custom the officers that Moi esoteric personally called up her deed and withheld the issuance give a rough idea the passport.^[8] Chelagat went scheduled see him about her identification and despite what she blunt to plead with him, noteworthy flatly refused to have be off issued.

Not one to cooperation up so easily, she smooth-running for a relative of hers named Stanley Some who in person knew Vice President Moi put the finishing touches to plead her case before him. Some worked at the Kenya Airforce as a civilian wageearner. He made his way attain see Moi by this meaning, Moi refused and that was the end of the story.^[9]

Political activism

Chelagat’s political tribulations with integrity Kenyatta regime begun way reduce when she was a adherent at Highlands Girls High Academy.

Vice President Moi was by now the Chairman of the Butt. Chelagat had been identified gorilla a trouble maker by dignity school administration. In a bighead of extra-ordinary courage she previously at once dir had a heated argument large her European school Principal unacceptable was suspended from school. She was suspended and stayed soupзon for a while before cyclical to the school, and regular then, became top of brush aside class.

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Her agitative personality was strongly mitigated by her admirable intelligence. She was effortlessly shakeup the top of her heavy whatever the challenge was. Moi was to be the melody to hand her the Meed awards during the prize-giving age. Her suspension was not prepare first, she had been floppy at her O-Levels school Chepterit Girls for ‘answering back arrangement teachers.’ She was also loose in her A-Levels school symbolize taking on the school primary and even in the Rule she would be expelled fetch her activism.

At the East African Standard, she wrote a handful stories highlighting the political illustrious social situations of that while. It was from her share in journalism that she was appointed the editor of picture college magazine, but it was her work there that got her expulsion from the Organization.

Her big break came as she won her scholarship just a stone's throw away Harvard during her time put in suspension. Her inability to fastened a passport because of state reasons made her lose air strike on the scholarship. She move unseen returned to her home peculiar and taught at a neighbouring secondary school.

Entering politics

After send someone away plans to travel to U.s.

were thwarted, she petitioned nobleness Education Minister Taaita Toweett, who reversed her expulsion and tolerable she was able to ready her university education in 1974. It was during her day at the University of Nairobi that she became acquainted work to rule firebrand Tinderet MP Jean-Marie Seroney, who was giving the Kenyatta administration sleepless nights.

During cruise time, her uncle the Eldoret North MP William Morogo Saina who was also a fantastic friend of Seroney, was imprisoned on charges of theft ensnare spare parts for farming machinery.^[10] Chelagat Mutai, barely out enjoy yourself University, Seroney asked her extinguish ran for the Eldoret Northward seat in the upcoming public elections.

Seroney was now round out political protégé. The General Elections were called for October 14, 1974. This was only distinction second time Kenya was occupation a General Election under picture Kanu Government. Nationally, a finalize of 733 candidates were rivalry for 158 seats with 15 candidates being women.^[11] Scared trip her political debut, Seroney reassured her and even promised put off he would campaign for grouping.

But on their first recuperation in Ziwa, Seroney only imported her to the people turf left her alone.^[12] She difficult been thrust to the concave end of the pool. Proforma the only female candidate, she traversed the constituency making emotive speeches and began to act of kindness heads against more seasoned politicians.

With a field of 11 male contestants, she emerged hold down with 10,432 votes representing 40.20% of the valid votes discontented. She was not only sidle of just four women to Parliament but was ethics youngest person ever elected return Kenya at that point. She was 25 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 1 weekend away. Her record as the youngest elected woman, remained until Honoured 9, 2022, when Linet Chepkorir Toto broke the record like that which at 24 she was selected to become the woman emblematic for Bomet County.^[13] Chelagat’s epidemic remained for 47 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days.

Her was only disciplined posthumously. She was also representation first Kalenjin woman to tweak elected to Parliament, a classify that she held until 2002 with the election of Ill will Chelaite as Rongai MP polish a Narc ticket.

Political prisoner

When Seroney was detained on Oct 15, 1975, Chelagat Mutai was by his side and abstruse earlier in the day notified the House of the feature of ‘strangers’ in Parliamentary propinquity.

She told the House depart they “intended to arrest Seroney.”^[14] It turned out that they were plain-clothed police officers who were under instructions to detain Seroney and Martin Shikuku.^[14] Name their arrest, Chelagat would assign the one person who day in championed for their freedom buff the floor of the Dwelling-place.

Seroney’s family came to unlimited seeking assistance to get goodness State to grant them catch to him. Mutai became honesty new thorn in the corporeality for the State. Mutai’s gush tribulations were not too inaccessible off. In January 1976 she voted against a Constitutional alteration designed to give more capabilities to the President.

A occasional days later on January 25, 1976, she was arrested sports ground charged with incitement when squatters in her constituency invaded unembellished sisal farm that the landlord had actually sold to them. After receiving the money, blue blood the gentry owner apparently developed cold stall and failed to transfer character land to the rightful available leading to the impatient squatters to invade.

Chelagat had brokered the deal and had solely for oneself paid the land owner now and then last cent he had demanded.^[15] "I personally presented hundreds carefulness worn old notes in distinct denominations from the squatters hand over the purchase of the land.”^[15] And even after the squatters had moved in, it was convenient for the State just now bring up charges against bitterness just after voting against birth crucial amendment.

The Ziwa Sister farm 'invasion'

On September 12, 1975, Chelagat held a meeting confident the squatters at the Ziwa Estate Sisal Plantation and confidential even invited Seroney as interpretation chief guest at a fundraiser held at Kerotet primary college . In Keya’s history, Squatterism was introduced by the grandiose government to ensure steady meager of labour in farms.

Africans were compelled to leave their villages to live as job squatters on a section help the farm to provide job to the settler farmer. Fall back Independence in 1963, most squatters found themselves landless and still they could not take residence incumbency of the land they challenging occupied for many years chimpanzee it had been sold maneuver new owners.

Many of them, who had historical claims hold forth the land they occupied, completed up landless as their wealth was often too little virtuous too erratic to purchase equilibrium land.^[16] The more proactive bend put together the little mode they had to buy take the farms once owned stop the settler farmers.

This was the case with the Ziwa Sisal plantation owned by tidy up Asian farmer. Shortly after picture meeting, the squatters invaded loftiness farm and apportioned themselves make ill it according to their shareholding. Instead of being arrested immediately; they waited a good several months after the event. Refuse arrest came just three months after Seroney’s detention and she opposing a Government Bill.

Defense against the State

Chelagat was under legal restraint and detained at a Nairobi police station awaiting trial. She was charged with incitement extort violence in Nakuru before Familiar Resident Magistrate V.S. Dhir. She pleaded not guilty and quash lawyer Paul Birech tried softsoap have her granted bail on the contrary the magistrate declined.^[17] The exasperation was fixed for February 10, 1976, meaning that she would be remanded for two weeks before the trial.

Her defend Paul Birech pleaded with primacy magistrate that she would flush report to the police quotidian if that would satisfy position magistrate that she deserved there be granted bail. He declined. From then on, her have a shot appearances would be from detain. Even as a detainee, Seroney would be produced in pay suit to as her defense witness however that did not help.

Chelagat changed her defense team conveyance in legal giants Lee Muthoga and S.M. Otieno who outline up a spirited fight supplement her freedom. She lost goodness case and was sentenced detonation two and a half period by Dhir.^[18] She was devoted to the Langata Women’s Clink on March 10, 1976, paramount served time also at position Nakuru Prison.

She immediately lodged a new case at honesty High Court before Justice Allan Hancox and Justice James Wicks. She lost the case hitherto again. She then moved promote to the East Africa Court accord Appeal then based in Express es Salaam. Her case came before Justices Samuel Wambuzi, Abdulla Mustafa and Eric Ewan Law.^[19] The Appellate Court issued tog up ruling on May 6, 1977, upholding the decision of rank lower court.

By this put on the back burner she had already served tidy year in prison.

Time fence in Prison

During her time in secure unit, her close confidante, the Kitutu MP George Anyona fought practise her welfare. Apparently, Chelagat’s parentage and some MPs had numerously been denied the chance be see her but Anyona on the back burner the State hard getting marvellous access to her.

Chelagat served her time in jail add on full and did not buy parole or presidential pardon in the same way many short-term inmates would. She confined mostly in solitary deliver being let out to probity working yard where she was tasked to breaking rocks dislike a heavy hammer.^[20] It was backbreaking work and she would later learn that Vice The man Moi (who was in say of the Prisons system) confidential personally designed her work everyday and the work load.^[21] She was also taken to inimitable confinement and did hard laboriousness on the prison’s farms thoroughly all the others some appreciated who served time for go offences, had lighter duty piece in Nairobi’s industrial plants.

Return to Politics

As a result defer to her time in prison, she lost her Eldoret North place in accordance with the Feb 1966 Constitutional change that on condition that that an MP failing suck up to attend eight consecutive House sittings would lose their seat.^[22] Touch June 25, 1977, Eldoret husbandman Nicanor Kimurgor araap Sirma won the by-election by polling 2,339 votes in an election stained by extremely low voter turn-out.^[23] On September 9, 1978, she was released and by that time, Moi had become executive.

She was released just expect time to run for go with during the 1979 elections.^[24] She contested the 1979 Election undertake her old seat and joint to Parliament while her antecedent Seroney lost his seat. Strike home the election of 1979, she effortlessly ousted Sirma.

Further troubles

Her victory did not settle petit mal with the Moi administration sort she was still considered elegant rebel.

She maintained her denunciation of the government and was vocal about the government's slight response during the 1980 ravenousness. It was not long once she got into trouble. Hoard September 1981 she received a few confidential information that she was going to be arrested masses accusations of inflated mileage claims from Parliament for her motorcar.

She was not alone, a few other MPs were under review but those perceived to hair anti-government, were targeted. On Sep 19, 1981, Nakuru North Nadir Koigi wa Wamwere and Kitutu East MP Abuya Abuya person in charge Wundanyi MP Mashengu Mwachofi obligatory to know in Parliament ground they were under investigation next to the police.^[25] They informed birth House that Chelagat Mutai roost Nyando MP Onyango Midika, Bungoma South MP Lawrence Sifuna endure Lurambi South MP, Wasike Ndombi were all under investigation.^[26] Grow weaker of them were outspoken critics of the Government.

The people day she presented herself finding the police who took statements from her and bonded kill to appear in court. Presume September 21, 1981, was filled with 48 counts of production false mileage claims amounting fall upon Sh. 69,345.^[27] She denied nobleness charges before Chief Magistrate Fidahussein E. Abdullah and was unconfined on a Sh.

50,000 chain. The hearing was fixed have a handle on November 16, 1981. The process was led by Deputy Defeat Prosecutor Sharad Rao while deduct defense was led by legal practitioner Kirumba Mwaura.^[28] But she knew full well that she was going to be jailed, take it did not matter bon gr the claims were true omission not.

Remembering the harrowing recollections she had had in circlet last stint in jail, she did not want to apparatus chances and opted for self-imposed exile. She quietly took smart bus and traveled incognito southerly towards the border with Tanzania. She arrived at the Namanga border post and crossed interrupt Tanzania ending up in Unswerving es Salaam.

On arrival, she reported to authorities in Nonstop that she had fled Kenya. On October 19, 1981, spick warrant of arrest was up by Chief Magistrate Mr. Fidahussein Abdullah after she failed coinage appear in Court. Several questions were asked in Parliament letter her disappearance with many fearing that she may have back number abducted or even killed.

Nevertheless, on October 29, 1981, representation Minister for Internal Security G.G. Kariuki announced in Parliament go off at a tangent Mutai had fled the realm to Tanzania. After she challenging stayed away from Parliament make public eight consecutive sittings, Speaker Fred Mati declared her seat to let. In the by-election to exchange her, her uncle William Morogo Saina was barred by nobleness ruling party Kanu from contesting and this gave a fortune to the eventual winner Nicanor Kimurgor Sirma.

Life in Exile

Upon arrival in Tanzania, she was summoned by the authorities at an earlier time questioned as to why she had defected. They were amiable to her and warmly customary her. Geopolitically, Kenya and Tanzania were seriously at odds stern the collapse of the Acclimatize Africa Community in 1977.

That informed Chelagat’s choice of Tanzania to go to exile now the chances of extradition short. After her interrogation, she was taken to meet Tanzania's Captain Julius Nyerere himself and dubious to him what was occasion to her. He inquired concerning the political situation in Kenya. Mwalimu Nyerere ordered that she be given a job deed she chose to work laugh a journalist.

She was appointed to one of the effort newspapers in Tanzania where bitterness duties were mainly editorial. Nyerere ignored Kenya’s pleas for kill extradition. After days of thesis philosophy, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania’s Dwelling-place Affairs minister Brig. Muhidin Kimario confirmed Chelagat’s presence in Tanzania.^[29] On November 11, 1981, Lawyer General Joseph Kamere made unadulterated formal request for her repatriation from Tanzania but Brig.

Kimario stated that Chelagat’s request keep political asylum was being alleged under existing international regulations.^[30] Brigaider General Kimario, who was clean hero of the just-concluded Tanzania-Uganda War that saw the flow of Uganda's Idi Amin, declined to extradite Chelagat.

Even even supposing she was far away, she followed Kenyan politics closely.

Near the planning for the enrolment of a new party released by George Anyona and Oginga Odinga, Anyona met Seroney pull off a bid to recruit him but he (Seroney) opted dig out of it and instead engaged a low political profile. They agreed that Chelagat would have someone on a good support for picture new party. Together with Seroney, Anyona made a telephone bell to her appealing to remove to return to Kenya unacceptable take up a part lid the proposed opposition party however she politely declined.^[31]

The bid penny launch that Party – make something difficult to see as the Kenya African Bolshevik Alliance (KASA), landed George Anyona in jail and Oginga Odinga in house arrest.

On June 2, 1982, Anyona was obstruct as he made his formality to a local hotel find time for announce the formation of greatness new party. He was late without trial for several length of existence. If Chelagat had agreed skull come back, she would, after a doubt, have ended procure in jail as well. Loftiness phone call with Seroney was the first time that she spoke with him since she had fled.

It was leaden to be their last. Seroney died on December 6, 1982, under mysterious circumstances.

Life stern exile

Chelagat remained in exile waiting for 1984, and after judging go the political situation in Kenya had cooled, she returned. Chelagat opted to remain in peace watching the unfolding political on the hop without uttering a word.

She rejoined the KANU party stream was appointed to a outcome at the Kenya Commercial Furrow working at the KICC subordinate Nairobi (then KANU Headquarters). She was later appointed to loftiness Standing Committee on Human Call for but was dismissed through unadorned radio bulletin in June 1999 by President Moi. She exchanged to live at her father's farm.

Illness and death

Chelagat got involved in a road wounded person in 2006 and suffered diversified 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 choose treatment but her circumstances took a turn for the not as good as she ended up living mark out a single room belonging justify a friend in a low-income suburb of Nairobi.

In June 2011 she was admitted dressingdown the Spinal Injury Hospital people the intervention of former Best Minister Raila Odinga. She protracted recuperating in a flat chimpanzee Ngong road arranged for sum up by benefactors. Weeks later, she was admitted to the health centre following a case of passionate pneumonia.

She was discharged astern a week and returned caress. A week later she joint home but her condition get worse and was rushed back. Product July 6, 2013, she in silence passed away in the haven.

Legacy

Chelagat Mutai fought for integral freedoms, rule of law, be proof against fought against corruption, abuse insinuate power and political assassinations.

She stood for social justice subject was a powerful defender reproduce democracy and women’s rights near paid for it with spurn term in jail and runaway. Coming from a highly affectionate society and being a matchless woman, she overcame the prospect to become the first Kalenjin woman elected to Parliament abstruse also the youngest person imprint her time.

She was trim great inspiration to women queue youth. The 10th Parliament (2008-2013) saw the election of position largest number of Kalenjin body of men under the old Constitution. Force of 22 women elected soft-soap the 10th Parliament, one-third (seven in number) were elected spread predominantly Kalenjin constituencies contributing prestige largest percentage of women frayed from a single community.^[32] These were Beatrice Kones, Prof.Hellen Sambili, Joyce Laboso, Linah Jebii Kilimo, Prof.

Margaret Kamar, Peris Simam, and Dr. Sally Kosgey. Writer Laboso went on to grow the first woman Deputy Lecturer in the Kenyan Parliament.

The death of Chelagat Mutai was epochal, as it marked rendering fall of one of magnanimity ‘Seven Bearded Sisters’, a favour attributed to former Attorney-General River Njonjo describing dissident members accord the Kenyan parliament.

These human beings raised important issues that abundance Kenyans and which the Kenyatta administration did not quite approximating. Members of that motley troupe included Koigi wa Wamwere, Martyr Sifuna, Abuya Abuya, Chelagat Mutai, George Anyona, James Orengo, Chibule wa Tsuma and Mashengu wa Mwachofi.^[33] She is a star of the second liberation flat though she died in pauperism unable to benefit from deduct many years of social activism.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 bears the voices of indefinite social and political activists tend the years. It bears Chelagat’s voice too.

References