PROFILE

Martha was born in Tigania on 16 January 1942 to the late Henry M’Itaru and Carol Kaome, tea and diary farmers in Muthara, Meru County. Martha was the second born in a family of eight children, 2 boys and 4 girls. In the formative years, her parents instilled a sense of duty and responsibility in Martha and her siblings. These humble beginnings were laying a firm foundation for building life-long values for Martha of hard-work, working with others to achieve a common good and that perseverance does pay.

EDUCATION

Martha attended both primary and secondary school in Meru. Upon completion of her secondary school, Martha embarked on a teaching job, in local schools, thus beginning a passion for empowerment of young people, which would characterize her work in life.

Martha and her elder sister were ambitious and confident women and made their mark in history by being the first women from Meru to travel outside Kenya to seek higher education in the distant shores of Europe. A few years before independence, Martha begun her sojourn to Europe and went to Holland, where she enrolled in a Diploma in Community work. Martha settled well in Holland, enjoying the cold weather and walking in the outdoors admiring the beautiful Dutch tulip fields. She made many friends and during this period, developed an interest in travelling around the world and making networks with people from all walks of life, which again were hallmarks of her life. Martha opted not to pursue a career in Europe but to instead come to apply all she had learned towards the development of her country.

FAMILY LIFE

Martha met Johnson Kiraithe in 1959 while still in school and the relationship blossomed over time. They got married in a colourful wedding in meru and were blessed with five children, and eleven grandchildren.

Having seen the transformative power of a good education, Martha and Johnson determined that their main goal would be to provide the best educational environment for their five children and enrolled their children in the St. Mary’s and Loreto Convent Msongari schools

Attending Sunday Mass as a family was a way of life, and also observing all the church holy days. The investment in their children’s education continued with all the five children attending top Universities in America, Kenya, England and South Africa, and all graduating with Masters degree. It was a moment of pride for Martha to lead a family delegation to South Africa in 2012 to witness her first born, Dr. Mary Mugambi-Musau receive a PhD from Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.

Martha was a woman ahead of her time, determined to be digital. She learnt how to make powerpoint presentations and how to connect through facebook.

Professional Life

Martha begun her professional life working for the County Council in Meru as a Community Social Worker. Martha joined private sector. She worked for Otis Elevators and then moved to Standard Chartered Bank where she worked for a number of years and working under the Director of International Business and Trade banking.It was here where she interacted with a lot of business people and took a keen interest in the export trade. She opened her own company and begun to specialise in unique baskets, soap stone, ebony wood carvings and other handicrafts, taking them to trade fairs around the world. Martha was very successful in this line, a true creative in her element and even won prizes for the quality of displays she exhibited in the foreign Expo’s.

Martha had a keen entrepreneurial spirit and had several business running at a go in addition to the export work. This included running a boutique and tailoring shop, and a neighbourhood shop. Martha also spent some time teaching at the prestigious Kianda College, teaching office administration and management skills and this was a period she really enjoyed, meeting and imparting skills to young Kenyan women. Her experience in export trade was a great foundation to join organisations dealing with economic empowerment. She joined the Kenya Buisness and Professional Women’s Association (KPBW) which was a very dynamic organisation championing the growth of women in business and professions.

She was the Chair of the Nairobi Branch of KBPWA, well as the National organizing Secretary, they did exciting work including the hosting in Kenya for the first time of the International Conference for Business and Professional Women. Martha also joined Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation, rising through the ranks and she made an attempt for the seat of Chair however was made a Trustee of Maendeleo where until her demise, she was able to work closely with the dynamic currentchair, advocate for the economic empowerment of women at county levels and to address several key forums including Maendeleo county forums with HE the First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta.

Martha was also an active member of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She was the brainchild behind the launch of the Women in Business chapter of the Chamber and mobilised new members to join, and the development of an exciting programme for networking and growth of women in business. She had also been active in the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Martha was active in the Ameru Professional Forum and engaged with leading Meru community leaders. She enjoyed the meetings of this Forum and the strategic discussions they used to have on how to accelerate the socio-economic development agenda of Meru. She was invited to be part of the senior Meru leadership meetings, and engage with the political leaders of Meru. Martha did not like divisive politics and really wanted Meru to be united and cohesive so as to realise the full potential of the county.

Martha was also the founder of the Commonwealth Business Women’s Organisation – Kenya Chapter. Martha will also be remembered for her contribution to women’s empowerment and to the advancement of gender issues in Kenya. Well before these became mainstream development issues, Martha was already speaking about the importance of women having the right to quality education, to employment opportunities and to their well-being in the community so as to guarantee the well-being of their families.

That was only the start of a career that would span decades, building friendships with women from all corners of the globe, and professional networks that Martha would utilise later on. She also subsequently was very active in the Womens Decade, attending the UN Conferences in Copenhagen and being part of the organizing committee for the Nairobi Conference. Martha was part of the Kenyan delegation to the Beijing Conference.

Martha was among the great women pioneers in Kenya, who dared to dream of the transformation of their country and the important role that women can play as leaders and as contributors to the economy and to the well being of communities. Women who had the courage to step out with courage and confidence to take their place with dignity and honour in the community of leaders at a time, when it was uncommon for women to lead, uncommon for women to leave the confines of the home and kitchen, but this was Martha, a trailblazer, and preparing the way for others to also take the mantle and continue.

Public Service

Martha served the Government on special assignments. She was appointed by President Moi in to serve in the National Disaster Management Committee that was chaired by the current President, Uhuru Kenyatta, to respond to various crises in the country at the time, including drought and famine and ensure adequate support and response was given by the Government to reach to communities hardest hit on time.

She was also appointed by President Moi as a Member of the National Standing Committee on Human Rights, chaired by late Justice Onesmus Mutunga and working with among others, then former Attorney General Amos Wako and with former P.S. Thuita Mwangi as Secretary. Another highlight of her work was in 2008. Martha was greatly distressed by the 2007 post election violence. She joined in deliberations with officials from Catholic University to discuss on what steps can they take to start a process of real reflection and healing. Working with CUEA officials, they met with the Ministry of Justice, and with senior UNDP officials they organised in 2008, a National Symposium on Peacebuilding and Reconciliation at CUEA on how to address issues of peace, justice and reconciliation.

In 2010, in the run up to the Referendum for the new Constitution, Martha was invited by the then PS, Amb. Amina Mohamed of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, to be part of the team leading in civic education and mobilizing grassroot groups in Meru to advocate for support of the new Constitution. Martha actively criss-crossed the larger Meru speaking to women and youth groups on the new Constitution and the importance of coming out to vote in large numbers Martha was appointed by the Government in 2014 to be a member of the Public Procurement Advisory Board (PPOA) working very closely with the Director General and the other management structures. She discharged this important assignment with diligence and integrity.

Martha was also honoured to be invited by both the Government and the Church to serve in various committees that worked in preparation for the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Kenya, in 2015. Martha was active in the work of the Church nationally, and in Meru and Nairobi. She never ever tired of working for the church. Every fundraising event she was invited to join, she took it as a personal call to honour, even in times when she had other pressing financial needs.

At national level, she was active in the work of the Catholic Womens Association and in the 1980’s served as the National Chairlady. In this role, she was able to participate in the planning of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Kenya, and her family was privileged to be invited for a personal meeting with His Holiness the Pope.

Martha served in numerous capacities, including in the Parish Council and CWA. Over the years Martha worked with various institutions of the church to plan and implement various projects and initiatives. Martha was a committed member of the Diocese of Meru, Catholic community in Nairobi, supporting especially the Seminary in Karen and joining in celebrations and various forums with the Bishop and other clergy.

Martha worked for many years with the Assumption Sisters and supported their work including the noble mission of Regina Pacis University, where she was proud to serve as a Board Member. But above all, her legacy can be summarised as one of Strong Faith and belief in serving God and working to further the mission of the Church and the community. Second, her Total Love and Devotion for her family stands out. Martha’s legacy will remain intact and her work continues through this Foundation.

THE STORY OF JOHNSON & MARTHA MUGAMBI

Johnson Kiraithe Mugambi

Martha Karwitha Mugambi