Chelagat Mutai

Mutai was born in 1949 in Terige, Lessos, in Nandi.

Her social and political activism got her expelled from Highlands Girls School, now known as Moi Girls Eldoret, for leading a student strike.

She enrolled in University of Nairobi to study political science. She was a student leader and the editor of the student newspaper, The Platform.[4] Because of her radical ideas and firm political stands, she was repeatedly suspended.

Six months after graduating, Chelagat Mutai contested for the Eldoret North Parliamentary seat.[5] The seat had become vacant after the incumbent, William Saina, was imprisoned for incitement. Although she had shown an interest in elective politics, her first choice had been the Eldoret South seat. She changed her mind after consulting with her mentor, Jean-Marie Seroney.

At age 24 she defeated a field of more male experienced opponents, becoming Parliament's youngest member at the time.

Chelagat and Seroney fought for good governance, and were interested in going beyond Nandi Nationalism. Chelagat used her platform to criticize Jomo Kenyatta's government, speaking out against his decision to make land pacts with the British.[5]

She joined a small group of vocal legislators, derisively called "The Seven Bearded Sisters" by then Attorney General Charles Njonjo. Her colleagues included Martin Shikuku, Dr. Chibule wa Tsuma, Lawrence Sifuna, Abuya Abuya, George Anyona, James Orengo, and Koigi wa Wamwere.[6]

In 1976 she was prosecuted for inciting squatters to invade a sisal farm in Ziwa.[7] She served two and a half years in prison, losing her parliamentary seat in the same way as her predecessor.

She was released from prison in September 1978.[8] In the next election in 1979, she ousted Sirma. In her second term, she was vocal about the government's inadequate response during the 1980 famine.

In 2006, Chelagat Mutai was involved in a road accident that left her confined to a wheelchair. She spent the next years of her life in near destitution, at one point living in a friend's one-room house in a Nairobi estate.[6] Her plight was highlighted by a 2011 visit by then Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Chelagat died in June 2013.