NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan comedian-turned-activist Eric Omondi has been hospitalised after sustaining ligament injuries while attempting to walk nearly 486 kilometres from Nairobi to Mombasa as part of a charity campaign.
Omondi, who began the journey on Tuesday, February 10, said he suffered injuries to his left leg and hip after covering more than 68 kilometres on the first day of the challenge.
While receiving treatment, he vowed to continue the trek despite the setback.
“We must reach Mombasa by all means. Today I tore my ligaments on my left leg and hip, but tomorrow we will continue even if it means to crawl,” he stated on Tuesday night.
He suggested the injuries may have been caused by the intensity and excitement surrounding the start of the long-distance walk.
The five-day endurance challenge, dubbed the “Walk of Love,” is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, February 14, at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, having started at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
A fundraising drive
The initiative seeks to raise funds for the construction of the Sisi kwa Sisi Help and Rescue Centre, a proposed facility that will include a warehouse, two ambulances, a medical clinic, and a free secondary school aimed at supporting vulnerable families.
Omondi launched the broader Sisi kwa Sisi movement in 2024, positioning it as a grassroots humanitarian platform focused on direct community assistance. According to organisers, the initiative has raised more than KSh70 million for various social interventions nationwide.
Recent fundraising efforts reportedly included over KSh6 million to support a bedridden mother in Githurai, among other emergency appeals that have gained traction through social media campaigns.
In an effort to accelerate fundraising, Omondi invited members of the public to symbolically “buy” kilometres of the journey.
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“You can still buy kilometres on my behalf. One kilometre costs Ksh15,000. If you buy it, I will not walk that kilometre, but I must reach Mombasa,” he added.
The fundraising model allows supporters to contribute KSh15,000 per kilometre, effectively sponsoring sections of the route while helping to finance the rescue centre project.
Public reaction and safety concerns
The walk has drawn mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans praising the initiative’s humanitarian focus, while others have raised concerns about the physical toll of such endurance campaigns and the sustainability of celebrity-led philanthropy.
Medical professionals note that prolonged high-intensity walking without adequate conditioning can increase the risk of ligament and soft tissue injuries, particularly over long distances exceeding marathon thresholds.
Despite the injury setback, Omondi maintains he is determined to complete the journey, framing it as both a symbolic and practical mission aimed at mobilising public support for social infrastructure projects.
