A young man from Baringo walked seven kilometres carrying three tree seedlings, hoping to present them to a Cabinet Secretary at the Kiridam 2026 Half Marathon in Kabarnet.
Charles Kemboi Komen, popularly known as Kipsember, had only KSh 30 in his pocket, but his determination to make the gesture meant more to him than the little money he had.
Unfortunately, his much-anticipated moment ended in disappointment after a county askari pushed him away just metres from where the CS was seated.
However, what he did next turned his painful experience into an inspiring story of kindness and forgiveness.
A video showing Kipsember being turned away while carrying three seedlings went viral online, prompting outrage and calls to find him so that well-wishers could appreciate his gesture.
In an interview with MC Martoo, Kipsember revealed the remarkable journey behind the three seedlings and what motivated him to attend the event.
Why Charles walked 7km to deliver seedlings
He explained that he woke up with one mission: to present three tree seedlings to Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya in support of the marathon’s environmental conservation theme.
With no money to pay for transport, he decided to walk from his home in Seretunin to Kabarnet, covering approximately seven kilometres.
“Nilitembea 7 kilometres hadi Kabarnet juu napenda sport sana. Sikuwa na fare, lakini nilitembea,” he recalled.
The journey was particularly significant because Kipsember had only KSh 30 in his pocket that morning.
He explained that the seedlings were not expensive gifts purchased for the occasion but something he could readily access because of his small business.
“This is what I saw from my home and decided to carry the tree seedlings because that’s what I do for a living. I have a tree nursery where I sell seedlings at KSh 20 or KSh 30 to earn something for my daily needs,” he said.
Who is Kipsember?
Kipsember studied Hospitality Management at Kapsoo Technical Institute, now Baringo National Polytechnic but struggled to secure employment, prompting him to running a tree nursery to earn a living. He hoped that the seedlings would communicate both his commitment to environmental conservation and his political goodwill.
Before approaching the VIP section, Kipsember said he sought permission from police officers who were manning the event.
“Niliomba ruhusa kwa maafisa wa polisi waliokuwa pale, na wote wakaniambia sawa, hiyo ni nzuri,” he narrated.
