Jimmy Irungu, 30, on the last night of his three-day tree hugging quest/ ALICE WAITHERA
High costs have seen many shun life-saving screenings that should be offered for free in public health facilities.
In Summary
- Irungu who hails from Kamaguta village in Mugoiri sub county, Murang’a county, stopped the challenge at the 79th hour, just 20 minutes away from his goal, after he grew weak and dizzy.
- He was however rushed to Murang’a county referral hospital for treatment and is in a stable condition.
For just over three days, Jimmy Mwangi’s arms were wrapped around a tree in Murang’a town.
Mwangi, a 30-year-old pastor from Kamaguta village in Mugoiri subcounty, set out to hug the tree for 80 hours to draw attention to the burden of cancer.
As the hours stretched into days, his determination began to pull people in.
Kenyans who came to encourage him found themselves speaking not only about his endurance, but about their own losses, fears and unanswered questions about a disease that has emptied homes of loved ones and savings alike.
They said cancer has left deep scars in their families. Some spoke of selling land, livestock and household belongings to raise money for treatment.
Others admitted that relatives had skipped screenings altogether, fearing costs they could never afford.
Ministry of Health data shows Kenya recorded 44,726 new cancer cases in 2022, with 29,317 deaths.
Health experts say up to half of these cases could be prevented through early detection and proven prevention strategies.
Prostate, oesophageal and colorectal cancers lead among men, while breast, cervical and oesophageal cancers are most common among women.
Prostate cancer remains the country’s deadliest, followed by cervical and breast cancer.
For many, Mwangi’s silent embrace of the tree captured the helplessness of watching a loved one suffer without adequate support.
By the 79th hour, Mwangi’s body could no longer keep up with his spirit. Just 20 minutes shy of his goal, he grew weak and dizzy, alarming those around him.
He was rushed to Murang’a County Referral Hospital, where doctors stabilised him.
Youth CEC Manoah Gachucha later confirmed that the pastor was in stable condition and responding well to treatment.
Gachucha said after the pastor’s full recovery, the county government plans to partner with him on cancer awareness and tree-planting initiatives.
He praised Mwangi for turning personal pain into a message that resonated nationally.
In the hours before his collapse, Murang’a town had transformed into a vigil of sorts.
Artistes performed through the cold night as a swelling crowd waited, hoping to witness him complete the challenge.
Between songs and speeches, people shared deeply personal stories of loss and survival, turning the gathering into a space of collective grief and hope.
“I lost my mother and two sisters to this disease,” radio presenter Essy wa Mahatha told the crowd.
“I know the pain it causes and how urgently we need treatment to be accessible.”
She praised Mwangi for placing his body on the line to speak for countless patients who often suffer in silence.
Social media personality Muthee Ndegenye urged leaders to listen to the message behind the spectacle. He said early diagnosis and treatment remain out of reach for many families, leaving them trapped in cycles of illness and poverty.
“Many families are suffering quietly,” Ndegenye said.
“If it takes this young man hugging a tree for almost 80 hours to wake us up, then we hope something good comes from his sacrifice.”
At first, not everyone understood Mwangi’s actions. Peter Kamau, a Murang’a resident, admits he initially dismissed the challenge as attention-seeking.
“I kept asking myself, why a tree?” he said.
But as hours turned into days and Mwangi remained there, visibly struggling yet unmoving, Kamau felt something shift.
“I was following from a distance on social media, but eventually I came. His determination pulls you in. You start thinking about what he’s really fighting for.”
Those close to Mwangi said his motivation was rooted in pain he knows too well.
As a pastor, he has prayed with congregants battling cancer and comforted families after loss.
Two years ago, cancer claimed his uncle’s life, leaving a wound that never fully healed. The tree, they say, became his altar—an act of faith, protest and remembrance all at once.
Even within his own family, the challenge was initially met with disbelief. His brother, John Irungu, travelled from Kajiado after hearing of Mwangi’s plans.
“When he started, I laughed and thought he wanted to embarrass us. But when a whole day passed and he was still there, I knew he was serious. This wasn’t a joke.”
What began as a lone figure clinging to a tree grew into a shared plea from ordinary Kenyans: that no one should have to choose between selling their land and saving their life and that awareness must be matched with action.
Instant analysis
Jimmy Mwangi’s 80-hour tree-hugging campaign is a poignant symbol of the human cost of cancer in Kenya. Mwangi’s personal sacrifice turned awareness into empathy, inspiring action and dialogue. The public’s emotional engagement underscores a deep collective need for accessible healthcare, early diagnosis and government-supported interventions. Beyond raising visibility, the challenge connects environmental symbolism—holding onto a tree—to holding onto life, hope and the urgent demand for systemic healthcare reform. By ALICE WAITHERA, The Star
