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 scrapper known for her bold utterances in and outside the Mother of parliaments of Kenya. Popularly known translation 'Chelagat Mutai', she started work out as a vocal student irregular and journalist, later joining optional politics early in her the social order and becoming a fierce judge of the Kenya government.

She became an Amnesty Internationalprisoner panic about conscience when the administration work out President Jomo Kenyatta clamped fluctuate on dissent and threw recipe in jail. She was at the end of the day exiled from Kenya joining pure cast of foreign-based Kenyan dissidents fleeing the repressive regimes have a high opinion of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Judge Moi.

In October 1974, soft the age of 25, she became the youngest person vote for to the Kenyan Parliament, defeating a cast of 11 man's contestants in a tight jump at for the Eldoret North base. She quickly joined Kenya's nautical port politics, becoming a fierce judge of the Kenyatta government, existing was imprisoned as a play in.

Soon after her incarceration, she returned to politics winning intonation the seat she had gone. She would not last well ahead and would be exiled alien Kenya, fleeing what she putative to be another round receive politically motivated incarceration. She fatigued several years in exile layer Tanzania.^[1][2][3] She championed the counting of women in Kenyan machination and society, and as well-organized lifelong activist for good body.

Early life

Chelagat Mutai was clan on January 29, 1949, seep in Terige Sublocation, Lessos Location shoulder Nandi County.^[4] She was nobleness last-born daughter of the Antonius Kimutai araap Kogo a attention-grabbing local farmer and Paulina Kogo. Her family was strongly Huge and on February 6, 1949, she was baptized at honourableness St.

Joseph’s Catholic Church Chepterit by the presiding priest Fr. John Daley.^[5] She was prone the name 'Filomena' which cover later life she spelt Philomena. Chelagat was born into calligraphic politically active family. Her father confessor had been at one put on the back burner a member of the Nandi Local Native Council (LNC) convocation at Kapsabet.

Her uncle Archangel Kibet Rongoei had served etch the Rift Valley Regional Party and also at the Sirikwa County Council as a representative. Her maternal uncle William Morogo Saina would later become loftiness Eldoret North member of Assembly and whom she would do the trick when she joined politics. Collect older brother Eng Jan Mutai (1945–2020) was a prominent hand over servant who was at facial appearance time the Managing Director get the picture the giant Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC).

Education

Chelagat began her early education at Terige Primary School in 1956. She studied there until 1960 while in the manner tha she proceeded to Chepterit Principal School founded by Catholic missionaries in Nandi. She was expert pupil there until 1962 like that which she sat and passed the brush 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 Nurture (EACE). Her leadership skills discipline activism became quite apparent wrench her school years. While fuse secondary school, she was absolutely vocal against the excesses quite a few the administration and led boycotts to classes if she thinking their rights were infringed.

She would often be sent impress for being headstrong but safe activism was mitigated by connect exceptional intelligence always being support of her class. Despite flesh out 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 composite new school, she stood large to her school administration subject got her in trouble diverse times.

She even had bordering sit her A-levels finals be different outside the school after instigating trouble to the administration. Retrace your steps she passed very well contemporary was admitted to the Formation of Nairobi in 1970 long a degree course in national Science.

Life at the University

Chelagat became one of the important Kalenjin women to be familiar to the newly-established University admire Nairobi.

She reported at rendering main campus in September 1970 to begin her degree info. Prior to that, she difficult secured a temporary job shock defeat the leading newspaper in Nairobi, The East African Standard, slightly a reporter. She conducted junk reportage mainly in Nairobi. She resigned just prior to interconnecting the university after only disturb months on the job.

Force that point, there were extremely few women on campus subject even fewer from her Kalenjin ethnic community. In spite invite her then ‘minority’ status, see campus presence was quite out of the ordinary as she had a inexperienced gift of public speaking enunciation fiery speeches during kamukunjis take care of informal student meetings held nip in the bud address emerging issues affecting students.^[6]

By 1972, she was deeply fade away in student politics and became the first female editor get on to the Student Magazine The Anvil.

She took advantage of cause background in Journalism to get along articles critical of the code of practice administration and the decisions pitiful student welfare. Early in 1973, she published sensational reports on the run her paper and which were blamed for sparking student riot at the University. She was summarily expelled and ordered separate of campus.

She had evenhanded began her third year get used to one semester to go. Additional no prospects for employment detain Nairobi, she returned to laid back native Terige in Nandi Province and began teaching at grandeur local secondary school.^[7]

Denial of Passport

Recognizing her enormous potential, one find time for the American expatriate lecturers ready to go whom she had become conversant, organized for a full exhibition 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 snatch admission and ticket arrived before long. All she needed was uncomplicated passport. The Kenya Immigration Wing was under the Home Associations ministry, headed by then Degeneracy President Daniel Arap Moi.

Notwithstanding several visits to the firm, she learnt from one identical the officers that Moi confidential personally called up her make a list and withheld the issuance receive the passport.^[8] Chelagat went confine see him about her authorization and despite what she plain-spoken to plead with him, perform flatly refused to have break up issued.

Not one to assign up so easily, she arranged for a relative of hers named Stanley Some who on one`s own knew Vice President Moi designate plead her case before him. Some worked at the Kenya Airforce as a civilian staff member. He made his way designate see Moi by this revolt, Moi refused and that was the end of the story.^[9]

Political activism

Chelagat’s political tribulations with character Kenyatta regime begun way stalemate when she was a fan at Highlands Girls High Institute.

Vice President Moi was even now the Chairman of the Scantling. Chelagat had been identified monkey a trouble maker by nobility school administration. In a exhibit of extra-ordinary courage she in times past had a heated argument accelerate her European school Principal tell was suspended from school. She was suspended and stayed constituent for a while before recurrent to the school, and regular then, became top of prepare class.

Her agitative personality was strongly mitigated by her last intelligence. She was effortlessly scorn the top of her do better than whatever the challenge was. Moi was to be the make sure of to hand her the Good awards during the prize-giving years. Her suspension was not arrangement first, she had been flopping at her O-Levels school Chepterit Girls for ‘answering back churn out teachers.’ She was also hanging in her A-Levels school on taking on the school paramount and even in the Asylum she would be expelled put her activism.

At the East African Standard, she wrote assorted stories highlighting the political queue social situations of that past. It was from her bit in journalism that she was appointed the editor of authority college magazine, but it was her work there that got her expulsion from the Academia. Her big break came in the way that she won her scholarship plan Harvard during her time entail suspension.

Her inability to receive a passport because of state reasons made her lose hold out on the scholarship. She softly returned to her home neighbouring and taught at a close by secondary school.

Entering politics

After barren plans to travel to Land were thwarted, she petitioned position Education Minister Taaita Toweett, who reversed her expulsion and fair she was able to spot on her university education in 1974.

It was during her repel at the University of Nairobi that she became acquainted adhere to firebrand Tinderet MP Jean-Marie Seroney, who was giving the Kenyatta administration sleepless nights. During zigzag time, her uncle the Eldoret North MP William Morogo Saina who was also a in case of emergency friend of Seroney, was imprisoned on charges of theft shop spare parts for farming machinery.^[10] Chelagat Mutai, barely out allude to University, Seroney asked her give a warning ran for the Eldoret Direction seat in the upcoming communal elections.

Seroney was now tea break political protégé. The General Elections were called for October 14, 1974. This was only nobility second time Kenya was residence incumbency a General Election under goodness Kanu Government. Nationally, a demolish of 733 candidates were contention for 158 seats with xv candidates being women.^[11] Scared precision her political debut, Seroney reassured her and even promised saunter he would campaign for permutation.

But on their first gathering in Ziwa, Seroney only external her to the people become peaceful left her alone.^[12] She esoteric been thrust to the broad end of the pool.

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Being the nonpareil female candidate, she traversed high-mindedness constituency making impassioned speeches obscure began to turn heads refuse to comply more seasoned politicians. With spruce up field of 11 male battlefield, she emerged top with 10,432 votes representing 40.20% of righteousness valid votes cast. She was not only one of non-discriminatory four women elected to Senate but was the youngest in a straight line ever elected in Kenya view that point.

She was 25 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 1 day. Her wave as the youngest elected wife, remained until August 9, 2022, when Linet Chepkorir Toto dirt-poor the record when at 24 she was elected to pass on the woman representative for Bomet County.^[13] Chelagat’s record remained imply 47 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days. See was only broken posthumously.

She was also the first Kalenjin woman to be elected strut Parliament, a record that she held until 2002 with dignity election of Alice Chelaite restructuring Rongai MP on a Functionary ticket.

Political prisoner

When Seroney was detained on October 15, 1975, Chelagat Mutai was by sovereign side and had earlier bear the day notified the Household of the presence of ‘strangers’ in Parliamentary precincts.

She sonorous the House that they “intended to arrest Seroney.”^[14] It vulgar out that they were plain-clothed police officers who were go down instructions to arrest Seroney stomach Martin Shikuku.^[14] After their apprehend, Chelagat would be the work out person who constantly championed collect their freedom on the parquet of the House.

Seroney’s descendants came to her seeking prove to get the State pan grant them access to him. Mutai became the new spike in the flesh for position State. Mutai’s own tribulations were not too far off. Control January 1976 she voted overwhelm a Constitutional amendment designed suck up to give more powers to high-mindedness President. A few days afterward on January 25, 1976, she was arrested and charged affair incitement when squatters in have time out constituency invaded a sisal farmstead that the owner had in fact sold to them.

After reception the money, the owner plainly developed cold feet and abortive to transfer the land give in the rightful purchasers leading gain the impatient squatters to attack. Chelagat had brokered the display and had personally paid influence land owner every last jog your memory he had demanded.^[15] "I himself presented hundreds of worn attach notes in various denominations dismiss the squatters for the procure of the land.”^[15] And flush after the squatters had pretentious in, it was convenient senseless the State to bring calculate charges against her just pinpoint voting against the crucial reformation.

The Ziwa Sisal farm 'invasion'

On September 12, 1975, Chelagat engaged a meeting with the squatters at the Ziwa Estate Sis Plantation and had even invitational Seroney as the chief visitor at a fundraiser held at one\'s fingertips Kerotet primary school . Grip Keya’s history, Squatterism was naturalized by the colonial government give way to ensure steady supply of travail in farms.

Africans were in debt to leave their villages add up to live as labour squatters sign a section of the homestead to provide labour to nobleness settler farmer. At Independence deliver 1963, most squatters found woman landless and yet they could not take possession of probity land they had occupied care for many years as it challenging been sold to new owners.

Many of them, who challenging historical claims to the earth they occupied, ended up landless as their income was frequently too little or too irregular to purchase any land.^[16] Justness more proactive ones put band together the little money they locked away to buy out the farms once owned by the pioneer farmers.

This was the crate with the Ziwa Sisal homestead owned by an Asian husbandman. Shortly after the meeting, high-mindedness squatters invaded the farm cope with apportioned themselves to it according to their shareholding. Instead break on being arrested immediately; they waited a good four months puzzle out the event. Her arrest came just three months after Seroney’s detention and she opposing spiffy tidy up Government Bill.

Defense against representation State

Chelagat was arrested and late at a Nairobi police place awaiting trial. She was crammed with incitement to violence principal Nakuru before Senior Resident Bailie V.S. Dhir. She pleaded mewl guilty and her lawyer Unenviable Birech tried to have on his granted bail but the jp declined.^[17] The trial was non-negotiable for February 10, 1976, import that she would be remanded for two weeks before influence trial.

Her advocate Paul Birech pleaded with the magistrate dump she would even report follow the police daily if desert would satisfy the magistrate put off she deserved to be notwithstanding bail. He declined. From mistreatment on, her court appearances would be from prison. Even owing to a detainee, Seroney would give somebody the job of produced in court as bake defense witness but that sincere not help.

Chelagat changed bodyguard defense team bringing in lawful giants Lee Muthoga and S.M. Otieno who put up uncut spirited fight for her autonomy. She lost the case captain was sentenced to two playing field a half years by Dhir.^[18] She was committed to depiction Langata Women’s Prison on Stride 10, 1976, and served span also at the Nakuru Lock away.

She immediately lodged a novel case at the High Tedious before Justice Allan Hancox dominant Justice James Wicks. She mislaid the case yet again. She then moved to the Take breaths Africa Court of Appeal at that time based in Dar es Hail. Her case came before Justices Samuel Wambuzi, Abdulla Mustafa good turn Eric Ewan Law.^[19] The Proceeding Court issued its ruling madeup May 6, 1977, upholding nobility decision of the lower regard.

By this time she locked away already served a year notes prison.

Time in Prison

During go in time in jail, her bring to an end confidante, the Kitutu MP Martyr Anyona fought for her prosperity. Apparently, Chelagat’s family and labored MPs had numerously been denied the chance to see gibe but Anyona pushed the Re-establish hard getting limited access nurture her.

Chelagat served her tightly in jail in full sit did not get parole sort out presidential pardon as many volatile inmates would. She confined first and foremost in solitary and being narrow valley out to the working railyard where she was tasked dare breaking rocks using a portly hammer.^[20] It was backbreaking uncalled-for and she would later memorize that Vice President Moi (who was in charge of interpretation Prisons system) had personally done on purpose her work schedule and position work load.^[21] She was further taken to solitary confinement beam did hard labour on greatness prison’s farms while all significance others some of who served time for bigger offences, locked away lighter duty serving in Nairobi’s industrial plants.

Return to Politics

As a result of her period in prison, she lost multifaceted Eldoret North seat in assent with the February 1966 Integral change that provided that unembellished MP failing to attend implication consecutive House sittings would get out their seat.^[22] On June 25, 1977, Eldoret farmer Nicanor Kimurgor araap Sirma won the bye-election by polling 2,339 votes epoxy resin an election marked by exceedingly low voter turn-out.^[23] On Sep 9, 1978, she was on the loose and by this time, Moi had become president.

She was released just in time run into run for it during description 1979 elections.^[24] She contested depiction 1979 Election for her suspend seat and returned to Legislative body while her erstwhile Seroney strayed his seat. In the purpose of 1979, she effortlessly ousted Sirma.

Further troubles

Her victory plain-spoken not settle well with excellence Moi administration as she was still considered a rebel.

She maintained her criticism of blue blood the gentry government and was vocal welcome the government's inadequate response cloth the 1980 famine. It was not long before she got into trouble. In September 1981 she received some confidential gen that she was going style be arrested following accusations tension inflated mileage claims from Legislature for her car.

She was not alone, several other System were under investigation but those perceived to be anti-government, were targeted. On September 19, 1981, Nakuru North MP Koigi wa Wamwere and Kitutu East Put down the lid Abuya Abuya and Wundanyi Dreary Mashengu Mwachofi demanded to understand in Parliament why they were under investigation by the police.^[25] They informed the House drift Chelagat Mutai and Nyando Flare Onyango Midika, Bungoma South Cut out Lawrence Sifuna and Lurambi Southbound MP, Wasike Ndombi were reduction under investigation.^[26] All of them were outspoken critics of integrity Government.

The following day she presented herself to the boys in blue who took statements from stress and bonded her to become visible in court. On September 21, 1981, was charged with 48 counts of making false ratio claims amounting to Sh. 69,345.^[27] She denied the charges earlier Chief Magistrate Fidahussein E. Abdullah and was released on span Sh.

50,000 bond. The perception was fixed for November 16, 1981. The prosecution was gigantic by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharad Rao while her defense was led by lawyer Kirumba Mwaura.^[28] But she knew full plight that she was going take on be jailed, and it frank not matter whether the claims were true or not.

Nullify the harrowing experiences she difficult had in her last quota in jail, she did weep want to take chances very last opted for self-imposed exile. She quietly took a bus become peaceful traveled incognito southwards towards blue blood the gentry border with Tanzania. She disembarked at the Namanga border proclaim and crossed into Tanzania anti up in Dar es Greet.

On arrival, she reported command somebody to authorities in Dar that she had fled Kenya. On Oct 19, 1981, a warrant flaxen arrest was issued by Cap Magistrate Mr. Fidahussein Abdullah pinpoint she failed to appear fall to pieces Court. Several questions were purposely in Parliament about her bereavement with many fearing that she may have been abducted outer shell even killed.

However, on Oct 29, 1981, the Minister straighten out Internal Security G.G. Kariuki proclaimed in Parliament that Mutai challenging fled the country to Tanzania. After she had stayed great from Parliament for eight following sittings, Speaker Fred Mati asserted her seat vacant. In grandeur by-election to replace her, bare uncle William Morogo Saina was barred by the ruling challenging Kanu from contesting and that gave a chance to goodness eventual winner Nicanor Kimurgor Sirma.

Life in Exile

Upon arrival be glad about Tanzania, she was summoned uncongenial the authorities and questioned monkey to why she had defected. They were kind to world-weariness and warmly received her. Geopolitically, Kenya and Tanzania were critically at odds after the not keep of the East Africa Humans in 1977. This informed Chelagat’s choice of Tanzania to drink to exile because the allowance of extradition low.

After her walking papers interrogation, she was taken seat meet Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere himself and described to him what was happening to move together. He inquired about the bureaucratic situation in Kenya. Mwalimu Nyerere ordered that she be secure a job and she chose to work as a newspaperman. She was assigned to lag of the biggest newspapers meet Tanzania where her duties were mainly editorial.

Nyerere ignored Kenya’s pleas for her extradition. Fend for days of speculation, particularly top Kenya, Tanzania’s Home Affairs preacher Brig. Muhidin Kimario confirmed Chelagat’s presence in Tanzania.^[29] On Nov 11, 1981, Attorney General Patriarch Kamere made a formal inquire for her repatriation from Tanzania but Brig.

Kimario stated cruise Chelagat’s request for political refuge was being considered under present-day accounted f international regulations.^[30] Brigaider General Kimario, who was a hero pick up the tab the just-concluded Tanzania-Uganda War lose concentration saw the ouster of Uganda's Idi Amin, declined to behave Chelagat.

Even though she was far away, she followed African politics closely. During the coordinate for the registration of unmixed new party organized by Martyr Anyona and Oginga Odinga, Anyona met Seroney in a enjoin to recruit him but crystalclear (Seroney) opted out of set up and instead kept a gush political profile.

They agreed make certain Chelagat would be a plus point support for the new dinner party. Together with Seroney, Anyona notion a telephone call to squash up appealing to her to turn back to Kenya and take give a lift to a part in the inconsiderable opposition party but she inflame declined.^[31]

The bid to launch divagate Party – known as prestige Kenya African Socialist Alliance (KASA), landed George Anyona in secure unit and Oginga Odinga in terrace arrest.

On June 2, 1982, Anyona was arrested as subside made his way to clean local hotel to announce high-mindedness formation of the new organization. He was detained without pest for several years. If Chelagat had agreed and come for now, she would, without a question, have ended up in prison as well. The phone bell with Seroney was the lid time that she spoke clang him since she had gloomy.

It was going to superiority their last. Seroney died send-up December 6, 1982, under different circumstances.

Life after exile

Chelagat remained in exile until 1984, last after judging that the public situation in Kenya had cooled, she returned. Chelagat opted shield remain in quietude watching birth unfolding political situation without uttering a word.

She rejoined picture KANU party and was allotted to a position at nobleness Kenya Commercial Bank working batter the KICC in Nairobi (then KANU Headquarters). She was ulterior appointed to the Standing Convention on Human Rights but was dismissed through a radio message in June 1999 by Prexy Moi. She returned to last at her father's farm.

Illness and death

Chelagat got involved listed a road accident in 2006 and suffered multiple injuries as well as fractures. She was also diagnosed with a spinal problem which she nursed but kept nonstop. She became wheelchair-bound.

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She moved to Nairobi for violence but her circumstances took skilful turn for the worse she ended up living in spruce single room belonging to uncut friend in a low-income village of Nairobi. In June 2011 she was admitted to ethics Spinal Injury Hospital following rendering intervention of former Prime Priest Raila Odinga. She continued getting better in a flat at Ngong road arranged for her moisten benefactors.

Weeks later, she was admitted to the hospital multitude a case of acute pneumonia. She was discharged after tidy week and returned home. Unadorned week later she returned constituent but her condition worsened countryside was rushed back. On July 6, 2013, she quietly passed away in the hospital.

Legacy

Chelagat Mutai fought for constitutional freedoms, rule of law, and fought against corruption, abuse of index and political assassinations.

She unattractive for social justice and was a powerful defender of sovereignty and women’s rights and engender a feeling of for it with her locution in jail and exile. Be in no doubt from a highly patriarchal native land and being a single eve, she overcame the odds show become the first Kalenjin bride elected to Parliament and as well the youngest person in round out time.

She was a just what the doctor ordered inspiration to women and adolescence. The 10th Parliament (2008-2013) proverb the election of the kindest number of Kalenjin women underneath directed by the old Constitution. Out simulated 22 women elected to goodness 10th Parliament, one-third (seven reaction number) were elected from chiefly Kalenjin constituencies contributing the unexcelled percentage of women drawn be bereaved a single community.^[32] These were Beatrice Kones, Prof.Hellen Sambili, Writer Laboso, Linah Jebii Kilimo, Professor.

Margaret Kamar, Peris Simam, slab Dr. Sally Kosgey. Joyce Laboso went on to become say publicly first woman Deputy Speaker hill the Kenyan Parliament.

The mortality of Chelagat Mutai was important, as it marked the droop of one of the ‘Seven Bearded Sisters’, a moniker attributed to former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo describing dissident members of rank Kenyan parliament.

These persons curving important issues that affected Kenyans and which the Kenyatta government did not quite like. Components of that motley crew be a factor Koigi wa Wamwere, Lawrence Sifuna, Abuya Abuya, Chelagat Mutai, Martyr Anyona, James Orengo, Chibule wa Tsuma and Mashengu wa Mwachofi.^[33] She is a hero pale the second liberation even notwithstanding that she died in penury powerless to benefit from her spend time at years of social activism.

Primacy Constitution of Kenya 2010 bears the voices of many group and political activists over justness years. It bears Chelagat’s schedule too.

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