# Wangarĩ Maathai

_Kenyan environmentalist and politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 (1940–2011)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/wangari-maathai
Last updated: 2026-11-11

> Wangarĩ Maathai was a Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. In 2004, she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1 April 1940 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Nyeri ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P19))
- **Died:** 25 September 2011 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P570))
- **Place of death:** Nairobi ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kenya Colony; Kenya ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P27))
- **Occupation:** teacher; politician; philanthropist; biologist; environmentalist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P106))
- **Political party:** Mazingira Green Party of Kenya ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P102))
- **Education:** LMU Munich; University of Nairobi; University of Giessen; University of Pittsburgh; Benedictine College; Loreto High School, Limuru ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P69))
- **Spouse:** Mwangi Maathai ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P26))
- **Positions held:** Minister of Environment of Kenya (2003–2005); Member of the National Assembly (2002–2007) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Peace Prize; Knight of the Legion of Honour; Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding; Right Livelihood Award; Petra-Kelly-Preis; Sophie Prize; Goldman Environmental Prize; Indira Gandhi Peace Prize; The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal; NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award; World Citizenship Award; Elizabeth Blackwell Award; Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Fellowship in Conservation; honorary doctor of Waseda University; Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795#P166))

## Questions

**When was Wangarĩ Maathai born?**  
Wangarĩ Maathai was born on 1 April 1940 in Nyeri.

**What positions has Wangarĩ Maathai held?**  
Positions held by Wangarĩ Maathai include: Minister of Environment of Kenya (2003–2005); Member of the National Assembly (2002–2007).

**Where did Wangarĩ Maathai study?**  
Wangarĩ Maathai was educated at LMU Munich, University of Nairobi, University of Giessen, University of Pittsburgh.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Wangarĩ Maathai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangar%C4%A9_Maathai) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): वाङ्गारी माथाई](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q46795](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46795) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Wangari Maathai in 2001.jpg by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wangari_Maathai_in_2001.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Wangarĩ Maathai, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Wangari Maathai in 2001.jpg — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Wangarĩ Maathai". DigiNepal. Last updated 11 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/wangari-maathai. Retrieved 15 November 2026.