Limuru Road to be renamed Wangari Maathai

NAIROBI MCAs yesterday passed a motion to rename Limuru Road after environmentalist Wangari Maathai.

Mathaai-cremation

Honour: Kenya Forest Service guards salute just before Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai?s cremation on October 8, 2011. MCAs want Limuru Road renamed after her 

Tabling the motion, Karura MCA Kamau Thuo said Maathai’s passion and tireless efforts in conserving the environment should be recognised by naming the road after her.

Thuo said the country has since independence named and renamed roads to honour heroes and heroines who have contributed immensely to the development of the republic.

“Sandra Road was renamed Koinange Street, Lord Delamere Road renamed Kenyatta Avenue and Government Road renamed Moi Avenue. It is high time the county renames Limuru Road after this great heroine,” he said.

Thuo said Maathai was conferred 15 honorary degrees by institutions across the world for her active participation towards the well being of humanity.

Nominated MCA Alex Mudi said almost all roads in the city are named after men and the trend should change.

Mudi said renaming the road after Maathai will instill the culture of hard work among women.

Karen MCA David Mberia expressed fears the executive may not rename the road.

“I sponsored a similar motion to have all roads named after foreigners and foreign places renamed after local heroes and heroines, but the executive did not act even after this assembly passed the motion,” he said.

Kahawa West MCA Ngaruiya Chege urged the assembly to emulate and follow Maathai’s example.

Early this year, the African Union honoured Maathai by naming the front gardens at its headquarters in Addis Ababa after her – Wangari Maathai Gardens.

Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 to help in the campaign against deforestation.

The former environmentalist and political activist is remembered for marching to Karura Forest in Nairobi on January 8, 1999 with a group of about 20 friends to plant trees in the forest, part of which had been allocated to well-connected individuals and companies.

Source