Wanjiru Kihoro
Wanjiru Kihoro (9 September 1953 – 12 October 2006) was an economist, writer and
Education and career
Kihoro graduated in economics from
In 1982, Kihoro and her husband settled in London on exile from Kenya, at a time when Moi's arrests of dissidents had intensified, particularly of lawyers and academics. This is when she helped found the
In 1985, she co-founded Akina Mama wa Afrika as a community-based organisation for African women. In 1992, she helped found ABANTU for Development to train African women for positions of leadership. ABANTU was set up in Nairobi, Kenya, with subsequent offices set up in Nigeria and Ghana.[3]
She returned to Kenya with her family when the new
Death
She died in 2006 after four years spent in a coma after a plane crash. During these four years, Kihoro's situation was contrasted with that of
On her death, The Guardian commented that there were "few African women as well known as Wanjiru Kihoro".[1] Wangui wa Goro wrote in Pambazuka News: "[S]he was a leader, activist for democracy, freedom, human rights, equality and justice and always stood on the side of the oppressed, particularly women and the poor. She worked tirelessly and with courage, using her razor-sharp intellect to focus thousands, of the task at hand in creative ways which brought her knowledge and everyday life together in very practical ways."[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Haward, Patricia (22 November 2006). "Wanjiru Kihoro". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Wanjiru Kihoro: an activist, feminist, patriot, visionary, leader, friend". Pambazuka News. 19 October 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ "Partner in Focus". Women's Environment and Development Organization. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ^ Telewa, Muliro (6 April 2005). "Meeting 'Kenya's Terri Schiavo'". BBC News. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ wa Goro, Wangui (19 October 2006). "Wanjiru Kihoro: Sister, Comrade, Friend". Pambazuka News. Retrieved 24 August 2014.