Man excites Eldoret after taking up 48-hour challenge to sit on top of a tree

A 29-year-old man whose friends have been affected by drug abuse has caught public attention in Eldoret after undertaking a 48-hour challenge to sit on top of a tree as part of public sensitisation against the drug menace.

Thomas Kipkemboi, also known as Kapkeno, climbed the tree on Monday and is expected to complete the challenge on Wednesday at 2 pm.

Kapkeno climbed the tree with a pillow on which he has been sitting in the middle of strong branches to avoid falling down.

He explained that he prepared for the challenge by not eating or taking drinks to avoid the need to use the toilet within the 48 hours of the Challenge.

He, however, put on warm clothes and carried with him some glucose to help keep his body energised.

Well-wishers printed posters with names of each of the 48 counties opposing drug abuse.

The young man has been carrying the posters, changing every hour, expecting to raise each of the 47 posters plus one of the county, which he will raise during the last hour of the challenge.

The posters are changed every hour by his friends who support the initiative and climb the tree to reach him.

“I thought that I should do something unique to create public awareness on his drugs menace because I have lost many friends and others are in rehabilitation," he said.

Journalists sent him a mobile phone through which he recorded his voice explaining why he decided to undertake the challenge.

“ I decided to use this initiative to sensitise my fellow youth on the dangers of abuse of drugs because, as I speak, I have many friends who have lost their jobs and five others are in rehabilitation because of drugs,” he said.

He noted that abuse of drugs had also affected the health of many of his friends in Eldoret City.

Kipkemboi said youth should engage in gainful economic activities to improve their lives instead of drug abuse.

He operates a driving school at KVDA Plaza in Eldoret.