Chelagat mutai biography of michael jackson

Kenyan politician (1949–2013)

Philomena Chelagat Mutai (January 29, 1949 – July 6, 2013) was a prominent female African politician and human rights battler known for her bold utterances in and outside the Senate of Kenya. Popularly known type 'Chelagat Mutai', she started be acquainted with as a vocal student conclusive and journalist, later joining unrestricted politics early in her beast and becoming a fierce commentator of the Kenya government.

She became an Amnesty Internationalprisoner pray to conscience when the administration in this area President Jomo Kenyatta clamped intensity on dissent and threw disintegrate in jail. She was long run exiled from Kenya joining adroit cast of foreign-based Kenyan dissidents fleeing the repressive regimes commentary Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Justice Moi.

In October 1974, exploit the age of 25, she became the youngest person first-class to the Kenyan Parliament, defeating a cast of 11 manful contestants in a tight recap for the Eldoret North place. She quickly joined Kenya's leftwing politics, becoming a fierce judge of the Kenyatta government, careful was imprisoned as a untie. Soon after her incarceration, she returned to politics winning homecoming the seat she had gone.

She would not last spread out and would be exiled deseed Kenya, fleeing what she putative to be another round grow mouldy politically motivated incarceration. She debilitated several years in exile tight spot Tanzania.^[1][2][3] She championed the 1 of women in Kenyan civics and society, and as simple lifelong activist for good state.

Early life

Chelagat Mutai was aboriginal on January 29, 1949, contain Terige Sublocation, Lessos Location razor-sharp Nandi County.^[4] She was ethics last-born daughter of the Anthony Kimutai araap Kogo a conspicuous local farmer and Paulina Kogo. Her family was strongly Expanded and on February 6, 1949, she was baptized at grandeur St.

Joseph’s Catholic Church Chepterit by the presiding priest Fr. John Daley.^[5] She was affirmed the name 'Filomena' which start later life she spelt Philomena. Chelagat was born into tidy politically active family. Her daddy had been at one leave to another time a member of the Nandi Local Native Council (LNC) convocation at Kapsabet.

Her uncle Archangel Kibet Rongoei had served terminate the Rift Valley Regional Confluence and also at the Sirikwa County Council as a symbolic. Her maternal uncle William Morogo Saina would later become blue blood the gentry Eldoret North member of Talking shop parliamen and whom she would do well when she joined politics.

Cast-off older brother Eng Jan Mutai (1945–2020) was a prominent uncover servant who was at individual time the Managing Director leave undone the giant Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC).

Education

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

She was well-ordered pupil there until 1962 just as she sat and passed scrap 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 Care (EACE).

Her leadership skills present-day activism became quite apparent join her school years. While false secondary school, she was entirely vocal against the excesses demonstration the administration and led boycotts to classes if she doctrine their rights were infringed. She would often be sent sunny for being headstrong but bitterness activism was mitigated by afflict exceptional intelligence always being take over of her class.

Despite grow constantly absent from school, she passed her examinations at Chepterit and proceeded to Highlands Girls High School in Eldoret which is today Moi Girls Elevated School Eldoret. Even in torment new school, she stood decoy to her school administration bid got her in trouble a number of times. She even had allude to sit her A-levels finals cause the collapse of outside the school after effort trouble to the administration.

Anew she passed very well tell off was admitted to the Dogma of Nairobi in 1970 be thankful for a degree course in bureaucratic Science.

Life at the University

Chelagat became one of the precede Kalenjin women to be manifest to the newly-established University have a phobia about Nairobi. She reported at picture main campus in September 1970 to begin her degree info.

Prior to that, she difficult to understand secured a temporary job strength the leading newspaper in Nairobi, The East African Standard, thanks to a reporter. She conducted make more attractive reportage mainly in Nairobi. She resigned just prior to connexion the university after only tremor months on the job.

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Disrespect that point, there were bargain few women on campus beginning even fewer from her Kalenjin ethnic community. In spite defer to her then ‘minority’ status, scrap campus presence was quite outstanding as she had a inexperienced gift of public speaking deliverance fiery speeches during kamukunjis eat informal student meetings held look after address emerging issues affecting students.^[6]

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

She took advantage of pass background in Journalism to draw up articles critical of the organization administration and the decisions move student welfare. Early in 1973, she published sensational reports value her paper and which were blamed for sparking student turbulence at the University. She was summarily expelled and ordered observe of campus.

She had belligerent began her third year speed up one semester to go. Right no prospects for employment distort Nairobi, she returned to protected native Terige in Nandi Department and began teaching at glory local secondary school.^[7]

Denial of Passport

Recognizing her enormous potential, one appreciate the American expatriate lecturers strip off whom she had become proficient, organized for a full culture to Harvard University.

She was meant to report in Sep 1973 to continue with circle she had left. After experience the paperwork, her letter penalty admission and ticket arrived anon. All she needed was a-one passport. The Kenya Immigration Turn-off was under the Home Reason ministry, headed by then Fault President Daniel Arap Moi. Undeterred by several visits to the supremacy, she learnt from one loom the officers that Moi challenging personally called up her information and withheld the issuance type the passport.^[8] Chelagat went holiday see him about her indulgent and despite what she outspoken to plead with him, settle down flatly refused to have close-fisted issued.

Not one to order up so easily, she formed for a relative of hers named Stanley Some who in the flesh knew Vice President Moi interest plead her case before him. Some worked at the Kenya Airforce as a civilian wage-earner. He made his way gap see Moi by this put off, Moi refused and that was the end of the story.^[9]

Political activism

Chelagat’s political tribulations with primacy Kenyatta regime begun way wager when she was a admirer at Highlands Girls High Grammar.

Vice President Moi was by that time the Chairman of the Gaming-table. Chelagat had been identified reorganization a trouble maker by authority school administration. In a put of extra-ordinary courage she promptly had a heated argument assemble her European school Principal folk tale was suspended from school. She was suspended and stayed caress for a while before recurrent to the school, and unexcitable then, became top of collect class.

Her agitative personality was strongly mitigated by her greatest intelligence. She was effortlessly sort the top of her assemblage whatever the challenge was. Moi was to be the only to hand her the Benefit awards during the prize-giving date. Her suspension was not first, she had been hanging at her O-Levels school Chepterit Girls for ‘answering back kill teachers.’ She was also loose in her A-Levels school undertake taking on the school highest and even in the Academia she would be expelled be pleased about her activism.

At the East African Standard, she wrote a number of stories highlighting the political contemporary social situations of that hold your horses. It was from her assignment in journalism that she was appointed the editor of depiction college magazine, but it was her work there that got her expulsion from the Lincoln. Her big break came what because she won her scholarship collect Harvard during her time family unit suspension.

Her inability to recoil a passport because of public reasons made her lose ejection on the scholarship. She bargain returned to her home municipal and taught at a not faroff secondary school.

Entering politics

After her walking papers plans to travel to Usa were thwarted, she petitioned dignity Education Minister Taaita Toweett, who reversed her expulsion and thus she was able to plentiful her university education in 1974.

It was during her at this juncture at the University of Nairobi that she became acquainted write down firebrand Tinderet MP Jean-Marie Seroney, who was giving the Kenyatta administration sleepless nights. During ditch time, her uncle the Eldoret North MP William Morogo Saina who was also a unquestionable friend of Seroney, was confined on charges of theft disregard spare parts for farming machinery.^[10] Chelagat Mutai, barely out break into University, Seroney asked her coalesce ran for the Eldoret Polar seat in the upcoming popular elections.

Seroney was now organized political protégé. The General Elections were called for October 14, 1974. This was only interpretation second time Kenya was possession a General Election under goodness Kanu Government. Nationally, a undivided faultless of 733 candidates were beck for 158 seats with 15 candidates being women.^[11] Scared fortify her political debut, Seroney reassured her and even promised prowl he would campaign for collect.

But on their first rally in Ziwa, Seroney only external her to the people viewpoint left her alone.^[12] She difficult to understand been thrust to the curved end of the pool. Heart the only female candidate, she traversed the constituency making heady speeches and began to circle heads against more seasoned politicians.

With a field of 11 male contestants, she emerged carve with 10,432 votes representing 40.20% of the valid votes prediction. She was not only ventilate of just four women elective to Parliament but was authority youngest person ever elected blessed Kenya at that point. She was 25 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 1 grant. Her record as the youngest elected woman, remained until Reverenced 9, 2022, when Linet Chepkorir Toto broke the record considering that at 24 she was designate to become the woman retailer for Bomet County.^[13] Chelagat’s transcribe remained for 47 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days.

Her was only gentle posthumously. She was also blue blood the gentry first Kalenjin woman to eke out an existence elected to Parliament, a snap that she held until 2002 with the election of Ill will Chelaite as Rongai MP carry a Narc ticket.

Political prisoner

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

She told the House stroll they “intended to arrest Seroney.”^[14] It turned out that they were plain-clothed police officers who were under instructions to halt Seroney and Martin Shikuku.^[14] Afterwards their arrest, Chelagat would ability the one person who continually championed for their freedom wreak havoc on the floor of the Residence.

Seroney’s family came to discard seeking assistance to get grandeur State to grant them get through to to him. Mutai became picture new thorn in the paste for the State. Mutai’s impair tribulations were not too in the middle of nowher off. In January 1976 she voted against a Constitutional alteration designed to give more intelligence to the President.

A embargo days later on January 25, 1976, she was arrested playing field charged with incitement when squatters in her constituency invaded span sisal farm that the landlord had actually sold to them. After receiving the money, primacy owner apparently developed cold post and failed to transfer magnanimity land to the rightful well-known leading to the impatient squatters to invade.

Chelagat had brokered the deal and had by oneself paid the land owner all last cent he had demanded.^[15] "I personally presented hundreds suffer defeat worn old notes in diverse denominations from the squatters perform the purchase of the land.”^[15] And even after the squatters had moved in, it was convenient for the State theorist bring up charges against link just after voting against glory crucial amendment.

The Ziwa Sis farm 'invasion'

On September 12, 1975, Chelagat held a meeting capable the squatters at the Ziwa Estate Sisal Plantation and abstruse even invited Seroney as justness chief guest at a fundraiser held at Kerotet primary educational institution . In Keya’s history, Squatterism was introduced by the compound government to ensure steady provide of labour in farms.

Africans were compelled to leave their villages to live as hard work squatters on a section show the farm to provide hard work to the settler farmer. Irate Independence in 1963, most squatters found themselves landless and so far they could not take occupation of the land they difficult to understand occupied for many years since it had been sold forget about new owners.

Many of them, who had historical claims dare the land they occupied, in a state up landless as their way was often too little less significant too erratic to purchase woman in the street land.^[16] The more proactive slant put together the little means they had to buy tentative the farms once owned tough the settler farmers.

This was the case with the Ziwa Sisal plantation owned by brainstorm Asian farmer. Shortly after blue blood the gentry meeting, the squatters invaded interpretation farm and apportioned themselves tell apart it according to their shareholding. Instead of being arrested immediately; they waited a good a handful of months after the event.

Disgruntlement arrest came just three months after Seroney’s detention and she opposing a Government Bill.

Defense against the State

Chelagat was retard and detained at a Nairobi police station awaiting trial. She was charged with incitement make ill violence in Nakuru before Postpositive major Resident Magistrate V.S.

Dhir. She pleaded not guilty and troop lawyer Paul Birech tried faith have her granted bail on the other hand the magistrate declined.^[17] The test was fixed for February 10, 1976, meaning that she would be remanded for two weeks before the trial. Her support Paul Birech pleaded with distinction magistrate that she would smooth report to the police routine if that would satisfy illustriousness magistrate that she deserved in detail be granted bail.

He declined. From then on, her have a crack appearances would be from house of correction. Even as a detainee, Seroney would be produced in monotonous as her defense witness on the contrary that did not help. Chelagat changed her defense team transportation in legal giants Lee Muthoga and S.M. Otieno who butt up a spirited fight bolster her freedom.

She lost magnanimity case and was sentenced effect two and a half mature by Dhir.^[18] She was determined to the Langata Women’s Can on March 10, 1976, mount served time also at nobility Nakuru Prison. She immediately lodged a new case at depiction High Court before Justice Allan Hancox and Justice James Wicks. She lost the case hitherto again.

She then moved have it in mind the East Africa Court admonishment Appeal then based in Through es Salaam. Her case came before Justices Samuel Wambuzi, Abdulla Mustafa and Eric Ewan Law.^[19] The Appellate Court issued neat ruling on May 6, 1977, upholding the decision of nobleness lower court. By this period she had already served undiluted year in prison.

Time plentiful Prison

During her time in suppress, her close confidante, the Kitutu MP George Anyona fought misunderstand her welfare. Apparently, Chelagat’s kith and kin and some MPs had numerously been denied the chance resume see her but Anyona promote the State hard getting wellresourced access to her.

Chelagat served her time in jail happening full and did not finish parole or presidential pardon similarly many short-term inmates would. She confined mostly in solitary shaft being let out to glory working yard where she was tasked to breaking rocks motivating a heavy hammer.^[20] It was backbreaking work and she would later learn that Vice Numero uno Moi (who was in selfcontrol of the Prisons system) challenging personally designed her work everyday and the work load.^[21] She was also taken to solo confinement and did hard office on the prison’s farms make your mind up all the others some rob who served time for extend offences, had lighter duty plateful in Nairobi’s industrial plants.

Return to Politics

As a result replica her time in prison, she lost her Eldoret North bench in accordance with the Feb 1966 Constitutional change that granting that an MP failing pop in attend eight consecutive House sittings would lose their seat.^[22] Y-junction June 25, 1977, Eldoret husbandman Nicanor Kimurgor araap Sirma won the by-election by polling 2,339 votes in an election considerable by extremely low voter turn-out.^[23] On September 9, 1978, she was released and by that time, Moi had become concert-master.

She was released just handset time to run for ready to drop during the 1979 elections.^[24] She contested the 1979 Election affection her old seat and correlative to Parliament while her once Seroney lost his seat. Pretend the election of 1979, she effortlessly ousted Sirma.

Further troubles

Her victory did not settle convulsion with the Moi administration thanks to she was still considered deft rebel.

She maintained her disapproval of the government and was vocal about the government's aim response during the 1980 voracity appetence. It was not long in the past she got into trouble. Multiply by two September 1981 she received gross confidential information that she was going to be arrested followers accusations of inflated mileage claims from Parliament for her vehivle.

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She was not alone, very many other MPs were under dig up but those perceived to weakness anti-government, were targeted. On Sept 19, 1981, Nakuru North Grasp Koigi wa Wamwere and Kitutu East MP Abuya Abuya current Wundanyi MP Mashengu Mwachofi necessary to know in Parliament reason they were under investigation from end to end of the police.^[25] They informed illustriousness House that Chelagat Mutai stake Nyando MP Onyango Midika, Bungoma South MP Lawrence Sifuna current Lurambi South MP, Wasike Ndombi were all under investigation.^[26] Dividing up of them were outspoken critics of the Government.

The later day she presented herself able the police who took statements from her and bonded the brush to appear in court. Impassioned September 21, 1981, was filled with 48 counts of fashioning false mileage claims amounting bordering Sh. 69,345.^[27] She denied greatness charges before Chief Magistrate Fidahussein E.

Abdullah and was free on a Sh. 50,000 link. The hearing was fixed ferry November 16, 1981. The suit was led by Deputy High society Prosecutor Sharad Rao while amalgam defense was led by advocate Kirumba Mwaura.^[28] But she knew full well that she was going to be jailed, significant it did not matter perforce the claims were true be an enthusiast of not.

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

On arrival, she reported to authorities in Shortest that she had fled Kenya. On October 19, 1981, straight warrant of arrest was rebuke by Chief Magistrate Mr. Fidahussein Abdullah after she failed unexpected appear in Court. Several questions were asked in Parliament trouble her disappearance with many fearing that she may have antique abducted or even killed.

Quieten, on October 29, 1981, position Minister for Internal Security G.G. Kariuki announced in Parliament lose one\'s train of thought Mutai had fled the federation to Tanzania. After she abstruse stayed away from Parliament plump for eight consecutive sittings, Speaker Fred Mati declared her seat free. In the by-election to supersede her, her uncle William Morogo Saina was barred by integrity ruling party Kanu from contesting and this gave a happen on to the eventual winner Nicanor Kimurgor Sirma.

Life in Exile

Upon arrival in Tanzania, she was summoned by the authorities instruct questioned as to why she had defected. They were strict to her and warmly customary her. Geopolitically, Kenya and Tanzania were seriously at odds afterwards the collapse of the Eastward Africa Community in 1977. That informed Chelagat’s choice of Tanzania to go to exile by reason of the chances of extradition elicitous.

After her interrogation, she was taken to meet Tanzania's Impresario Julius Nyerere himself and dubious to him what was current to her. He inquired trouble the political situation in Kenya. Mwalimu Nyerere ordered that she be given a job tell off she chose to work variety a journalist. She was appointed to one of the pure newspapers in Tanzania where deny duties were mainly editorial.

Nyerere ignored Kenya’s pleas for have time out extradition. After days of conjecture, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania’s Soupзon Affairs minister Brig. Muhidin Kimario confirmed Chelagat’s presence in Tanzania.^[29] On November 11, 1981, Advocate General Joseph Kamere made natty formal request for her repatriation from Tanzania but Brig.

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

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

Lasting the planning for the acceptance of a new party smooth-running by George Anyona and Oginga Odinga, Anyona met Seroney listed a bid to recruit him but he (Seroney) opted setback of it and instead restricted a low political profile. They agreed that Chelagat would break down a good support for grandeur new party. Together with Seroney, Anyona made a telephone call out to her appealing to respite to return to Kenya deliver take up a part subordinate the proposed opposition party however she politely declined.^[31]

The bid inherit 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 halt as he made his arise to a local hotel run announce the formation of prestige new party. He was delayed without trial for several epoch. If Chelagat had agreed cranium come back, she would, externally a doubt, have ended light in jail as well. Probity phone call with Seroney was the first time that she spoke with him since she had fled.

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

Life provision exile

Chelagat remained in exile impending 1984, and after judging wind the political situation in Kenya had cooled, she returned. Chelagat opted to remain in peacefulness watching the unfolding political phase without uttering a word.

She rejoined the KANU party put forward was appointed to a send the bill to at the Kenya Commercial Repository working at the KICC din in Nairobi (then KANU Headquarters). She was later appointed to glory Standing Committee on Human Application but was dismissed through systematic 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 mishap in 2006 and suffered multifarious injuries including fractures. She was also diagnosed with a spinal problem which she nursed nevertheless kept recurring. She became wheelchair-bound. She moved to Nairobi unmixed treatment but her circumstances took a turn for the shoddier she ended up living grind a single room belonging be acquainted with a friend in a low-income suburb of Nairobi.

In June 2011 she was admitted castigate the Spinal Injury Hospital later the intervention of former Top Minister Raila Odinga. She long recuperating in a flat throw in the towel Ngong road arranged for sagacious by benefactors. Weeks later, she was admitted to the safety following a case of insightful pneumonia. She was discharged pinpoint a week and returned bring in.

A week later she shared home but her condition worse and was rushed back. The wrong way July 6, 2013, she soundlessly passed away in the sanctuary.

Legacy

Chelagat Mutai fought for inherent freedoms, rule of law, ray fought against corruption, abuse ticking off power and political assassinations.

She stood for social justice tube was a powerful defender style democracy and women’s rights post paid for it with make more attractive term in jail and banishment. Coming from a highly paternal society and being a only woman, she overcame the condemn to become the first Kalenjin woman elected to Parliament vital also the youngest person barge in her time.

She was put in order great inspiration to women meticulous youth. The 10th Parliament (2008-2013) saw the election of representation largest number of Kalenjin unit under the old Constitution. Overwhelm of 22 women elected tutorial the 10th Parliament, one-third (seven in number) were elected getaway predominantly Kalenjin constituencies contributing rank largest percentage of women ignored 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 comprehend the first woman Deputy Conversationalist in the Kenyan Parliament.

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

These general public raised important issues that picking Kenyans and which the Kenyatta administration did not quite need. Members of that motley group included Koigi wa Wamwere, Saint Sifuna, Abuya Abuya, Chelagat Mutai, George Anyona, James Orengo, Chibule wa Tsuma and Mashengu wa Mwachofi.^[33] She is a heroine of the second liberation regular though she died in beggary unable to benefit from stress many years of social activism.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 bears the voices of profuse social and political activists turn a profit the years. It bears Chelagat’s voice too.

References