By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 5 January 2026 - A man in Murang’a has turned to an unusual endurance act to force a national conversation on cancer, launching an 80-hour tree-hugging challenge aimed at highlighting the disease’s growing toll on Kenyan families and the need for stronger state intervention.
James Irungu, 30, began the challenge at 9pm on Sunday in Murang’a town, vowing to remain wrapped around a single tree until early Thursday morning. By Monday afternoon, he had already endured more than 12 hours, drawing curious onlookers and supporters who stopped by to encourage him as he pressed on.
Irungu said his motivation is rooted in the sharp rise in cancer cases across the country and the devastating financial strain the illness continues to place on households.
“I am doing this to show people that this is a very dangerous disease,” he said.
“Many families have been impoverished by cancer. Some have sold land, others have taken loans, and still, lives are being lost.”
He noted that beyond the emotional pain, cancer often forces patients and their families into crippling expenses, particularly when specialised treatment is required outside Kenya.
“We do not have a hospital here in Kenya that can cure cancer. People have to go to India,” Irungu said, describing the journeys as costly and out of reach for most ordinary citizens.
Speaking shortly after starting the challenge, Irungu urged the government to elevate cancer to the level of a national emergency, similar to how HIV/AIDS was addressed at the height of that epidemic.
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“When HIV came, we used to see posters everywhere in public places warning people and asking them if they had been tested,” he said.
“We want the same for cancer, messages everywhere telling people to go for screening.”
Irungu revealed that cancer has claimed the lives of several of his relatives, a personal loss that strengthened his resolve to speak out publicly. He believes increased public education, early screening and serious investment in local treatment facilities could significantly reduce cancer-related deaths.
“I feel the government response is still inadequate compared to the scale of the problem,” he said.
The challenge comes at a time when endurance-based campaigns are gaining popularity as tools for public awareness. Currently, Nyeri’s Truphena Muthoni holds the recognised record for the longest tree-hugging marathon at 48 hours, while her recent 72-hour attempt is still awaiting ratification by Guinness World Records.
Irungu hopes to surpass those milestones, but says his real goal is impact, not records.
“If this makes even one person go for screening or pushes leaders to act, then the pain and discomfort will be worth it,” he said, bracing himself for another long night.
