General
Source: Daily Nation
With the passing away of Wambui Otieno Mbugua, Kenya has lost one of its greatest heroines.
By her life, she touched and inspired many, opening our eyes and minds by her dignity, decorum and strength.
I met her a few times and thought the world of her for her courage, determination and fortitude and never tired of telling her, for too often we wait till people are dead before we let them know of our appreciation.
I first heard of Wambui Otieno in the folklore of the struggle for independence as I grew up on the slopes of Mt Kenya.
She was presented as a young, brave member of the Mau Mau, who played her part courageously and who suffered brutally for it, but whose spirit could not be broken.
Of course the name "Wambui Otieno" provoked questions for it was rare then to come across people so obviously linked to both the Kikuyu and Luo communities.
And especially so after the 1969 Kikuyu oathing ceremonies where the Luo were depicted as Enemy Number 1 of Kikuyu dominance and entitlement.
But it was in the 1980s that I got a better and fuller story.
As Wambui fought her valiant battle to bury her husband, SM Otieno, I came to learn that not only was she a successful businesswoman, but she also managed her husband's law office, then one of the most successful African legal practices.
It was rare then (and still is) for a husband and wife to work together, and that clear affinity and closeness was certainly different.
The Otienos had nine children that they brought up in Nairobi, without the traditional structures of our ancestors.
And as if the nine kids were not enough, the Otienos had also taken in, as foster parents, the eight children of family friends who had died.
With her big heart, Wambui provided love, values, emotional and material support for all 17 of these children, some of whom today are among the most dedicated Kenyan patriots.
Wambui's case for the right to bury her husband is seminal.
Almost alone, she stood up to the Umira Kager clan, demanding respect for her rights as the wife of SM Otieno, and in conformity with Kenyan and international law, about the sanctity of marriage and respect for women's rights.
Probably influenced by their own ties to their clans, and their views on the status of women, the judges in the case wrongly ruled against her.
Their rulings essentially confirmed women to be second class citizens in Kenya — unequal to men — whose personal rights could be trampled on by clans, even as removed as Umira Kager had been in SM Otieno's life.
Some will argue that the case was about respect for our culture and traditions.
Yes, we should respect out cultures and traditions, but only those that are fair, promote justice and equality.
Those that are "repugnant to justice and morality" as we were taught in Law School, can't be upheld.
And in any case, no culture is static and they all change and evolve to keep with the times.
Ironically, though, the courts ruled against her, Wambui ended up the winner in this one-woman tussle against a whole clan, inspiring generations of Kenyans to understand that one can indeed stand up for what they believe in — even against tremendous odds — and that a loss can sometimes be a win.
For me, this case begun my ongoing lesson in trying to understand and respect women's rights, and women.
For clearly had it been a man seeking to bury his wife where he wanted, no clan, no traditions, no courts would have stood in his way.
Indefatigable to the end, Wambui again caused ripples with her marriage to Peter Mbugua, who was considerably younger than she was.
Though she was ridiculed mercilessly, she stood strong, clear and firm, confident of her decision, again showing us that she could stand up for what she believed in; for she had broken no law, nor harmed anyone.
But the bottom line was that she had dared do what men have been doing for years, and in so doing shaking up the status quo.
Bravo Wambui! Rest In Peace. You are an icon for many of us.
You have taught us — by simply living your life — to be true to ourselves and to fight for what we believe in and what is right.
That is a gift to Kenya that no one has yet given before you.