Kenya's Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai dies aged 71

Wangari Maathai was an inspiration for many women across Africa

Kenya's Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai has died in Nairobi while undergoing cancer treatment. She was 71.

She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for promoting conservation, women's rights and transparent government - the first African woman to get the award.
She was elected as an MP in 2002 and served as a minister in the Kenyan government for a time.
Ms Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, which has planted 20-30 million trees in Africa.
The organisation also campaigned on education, nutrition and other issues important to women.
Ms Maathai had been arrested several times for campaigning against deforestation in Africa.

Posted in: World News