MAMA MUSSA
“Mama MusSa” - as she was called by everyone in her community - was a problem solver.
She was born in 1943 as Mariamu Peresut Lekwale. Despite her busy life, and three children- 2 boys and 1 girl- she also attended a gumbaru where she was taught to read. From a young age, she had a passion for giving back. If someone in the community had a problem and needed advice, “Mama Mussa” was their first stop. Later in life her desire to be force for good within her community evolved into an interest in politics with a focus on women’s empowerment. She became known as a voice for Samburu women. Mama Mussa’s activism garnered her a national reputation and in 1995 she received an invitation to attend the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. There she listened to then First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton, give her groundbreaking speech, “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” that ignited a global movement. Mama Mussa brought that message home with her to Wamba where she continued working for the rights of Samburu women until she died in 2007. Her legacy is felt in every drop of water that springs from our wells.