Wambui Otieno
Encyclopedia
Virginia Wambui Otieno was a female Kenya
n politician who in July 2003 briefly rose to prominence due to her controversial fight to bury her first husband in one of the most protracted legal cases in Kenya and later, her marriage to stonemason Peter Mbugua. The marriage was controversial since Wambui Otieno was 67 whilst Peter Mbugua was 25. This marriage caused much debate amongst the Kenyan population.
Wambui Otieno is sister to Kenya's former foreign Minister
, Dr Munyua Waiyaki. Wambui Otieno died on August 30th 2011.
She had had 3 children while working as a Mau Mau freedom fighter. She was arrested for her involvement in mobilizing in the women's wing of the Mau Mau's riots. Towards the end of the State of Emergency, the British colonial state arrested her and sent her to a detention camp on the coast.
In the years following Mau Mau, Wambui met and married S.M. Otieno, a prominent Luo
lawyer. Together they produced one of the most successful law firms in post-colonial Kenya. Her daughter is Gladwell Otieno, former director of TI Kenya (Transparency International) and director of "AFRICOG" African Center of open Gouvernance.
Wambui Otieno was one of the first women to run for elected office.
parliamentary seat on NDP
ticket.
In 2007, she founded a new political party, Kenya People's Convention Party. At the 2007 elections, she ran for the Kajiado North Constituency
parliamentary seat, but received only a minor share of votes.
As of 2008, they were living together with her stonemason husband in Karen
, Nairobi
. In February 2011 they held a second wedding ceremony, now at St Andrew’s Church in Nairobi, while the first wedding had been a civil ceremony.
Wambui had suffered heart failure previously and was relying on a pacemaker
, an electronic gadget implanted to function as the heart does
Wambui Otieno died on August 30, 2011 in a Nairobi Hospital.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n politician who in July 2003 briefly rose to prominence due to her controversial fight to bury her first husband in one of the most protracted legal cases in Kenya and later, her marriage to stonemason Peter Mbugua. The marriage was controversial since Wambui Otieno was 67 whilst Peter Mbugua was 25. This marriage caused much debate amongst the Kenyan population.
Wambui Otieno is sister to Kenya's former foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
, Dr Munyua Waiyaki. Wambui Otieno died on August 30th 2011.
Mau Mau freedom fighter
She published an autobiography titled "Mau Mau Daughter: A Life History".She had had 3 children while working as a Mau Mau freedom fighter. She was arrested for her involvement in mobilizing in the women's wing of the Mau Mau's riots. Towards the end of the State of Emergency, the British colonial state arrested her and sent her to a detention camp on the coast.
In the years following Mau Mau, Wambui met and married S.M. Otieno, a prominent Luo
Luo
Luo may refer to:*Luo , a group of related African ethnic groups.*Luo , a people of Kenya and Tanzania, part of the above named group...
lawyer. Together they produced one of the most successful law firms in post-colonial Kenya. Her daughter is Gladwell Otieno, former director of TI Kenya (Transparency International) and director of "AFRICOG" African Center of open Gouvernance.
Wambui Otieno was one of the first women to run for elected office.
Legal case
In 1994 she was the subject of a legal case that established modern legal rights of wives in polygamous marriages vs. tribal law.Political life
At the 1997 elections she unsuccessfully vied for the Kamukunji ConstituencyKamukunji Constituency
Kamukunji Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of eight constituencies of Nairobi Province. It consists of central to eastern areas of Nairobi. Kamukunji constituency has common boundaries with Pumwani Division of Nairobi. The entire constituency is located within Nairobi...
parliamentary seat on NDP
National Development Party (Kenya)
The National Development Party was political party in Kenya which was of national importance between 1994 and 2001.-Becoming Odinga's party:...
ticket.
In 2007, she founded a new political party, Kenya People's Convention Party. At the 2007 elections, she ran for the Kajiado North Constituency
Kajiado North Constituency
Kajiado North Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Kajiado District. The constituency was established for the 1966 elections...
parliamentary seat, but received only a minor share of votes.
Personal life
Her 2003 marriage to Peter Mbugua was subject of a national controversy. Many of their relatives condemned the marriage. There have been allegations that the death of Mbugua's mother's, which happened only days after the marriage, was caused by a shock she got upon learning of the marriage.As of 2008, they were living together with her stonemason husband in Karen
Karen, Kenya
Karen is a suburb of Nairobi in Kenya, lying south west of the city centre.It is generally believed that the suburb is named after Karen Blixen, the Danish author of the colonial memoir Out of Africa; her farm occupied the land where the suburb now stands. Blixen herself declared in her later...
, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. In February 2011 they held a second wedding ceremony, now at St Andrew’s Church in Nairobi, while the first wedding had been a civil ceremony.
Wambui had suffered heart failure previously and was relying on a pacemaker
Pacemaker
An artificial pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart.Pacemaker may also refer to:-Medicine:...
, an electronic gadget implanted to function as the heart does
Wambui Otieno died on August 30, 2011 in a Nairobi Hospital.