It was a long journey of tribulation but no regrets

By KARANJA NJOROGE and LILLIAN ALUANGA-DELVAUX

Kenya: At 84, Monica Wangu Wamwere’s age has not erased the fighting spirit that has marked her life.  Wangu, mother to political prisoner and former Subukia MP Koigi  wa Wamwere baffled many with her relentless perseverance when many were imprisoned for their political views in the 1980’s and 90’s.

A movie based on her life titled  ‘Unbroken Spirit’ which premiered in the New York American Film Festival describes her story as that of courage and determination.

“It is a story of power for the powerless. It is a story of a mother’s fearless and unconditional love,” she says.

While occasionally breaking into hearty laughter at her Engashura home in Nakuru County, Wangu recalls the 1992 mothers’ strike at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner to press for the release of Koigi and other political prisoners.

“We had 52 political prisoners and when we decided to move into Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner it was because we believed that they (prisoners) were being subjected to injustice,” she says.

Images of security forces throwing tear gas at the elderly women in a bid to flush them out of Uhuru Park caught the world’s attention and as the officers advanced, some of the women undressed; a traditional way of protest akin to a curse in the African culture.

For Wangu the incident was part of a long journey of tribulations she encountered owing to her son’s relentless struggle for freedom and democracy.

 She recalls how after the incident the women were each bundled to their homes and warned of dire consequences if they returned to Uhuru Park. “I was dumped at Kabazi, Nakuru on the orders of government where I found my house had been destroyed,” she says.

But as a sign of her inner power, Wangu was back in Nairobi that same day to continue with the fight to have her son released.

Skilful negotiation

With Uhuru Park being out of bounds the striking mothers moved to the All Saints Cathedral Church bunker where they went on hunger strike for days.

Given their advanced years some of the women collapsed and after much cajoling from clergy and other sympathisers to the cause they agreed to end the hunger strike.

Their struggle eventually paid off when the Government yielded to local and international pressure and released all political prisoners.

Wangu   says she learnt the art of non-violent confrontation and skillful negotiation despite lacking formal education.

“Courage is not picking a gun. I have never fought with a gun nor in Kiswahili or English. I fight in the language God gave me,”  she says.

She is of the view that with the freedom being enjoyed in the country and expanded democratic space the days spent in the trenches were not in vain.

“Even if I never benefitted from material wealth when I look back I feel that we made a big difference as things have changed in the country. You can no longer be detained without trial,” she says.

Leah Wanjiru Mungai recalls how she was accused of having taken an oath similar to that administered to the Mau Mau, for her insolence in failing to reveal the whereabouts of her ‘rebel son’.

As punishment, Mungai, then in her 50’s, was beaten and locked up at the Muthaiga police station for three days.

“They took away my sweater, shoes and khanga. It was cold inside the cell. I knew my son was on the run from police but I didn’t know where he was. But even if I did I would never have revealed it for what mother would betray her own child?” she poses.

Kang’ethe was at the time wanted for allegedly distributing Mwakenya; ( an alleged anti government movement in the 80’s) leaflets.

He was eventually arrested and jailed for 20 years, but was released after six years in prison.

Today, Mungai spends most of her time on her farm in Mwimuto, Wangige and believes that their sons would never have been released had the women not staged the protest.

She misses her friends, whom she spent months with at Uhuru Park and later the bunker in All Saints Cathedral,.

“People’s lives were destroyed and families were torn apart. The constant police harassment made it difficult for one to settle on anything and earn a meaningful living,” she says.

Mungai is saddened by the plight of the surviving ‘Freedom Corner mothers’ that are ailing and wishes there could be a forum where they could meet more often, as well as a fund to compensate those that lost livelihoods.