Murangá Pastor James Irungu, widely known as Jimmy,is now setting his sights on a new endurance mission after his previous 8o hour tree hugging challenge fell short.
Irungu announced shared on Friday, February 27,2026, via his social media account, Irungu said that the 105-kilometre walk will start from Murang’a to Karen.
According to Irungu, the walk, scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, will focus on cancer awareness.
In the poster circulating online indicates that the event will be hosted by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki
“Join me on this walk from Murang’a to Karen. One day cancer will also die,”Irungu said.
Cancer awareness
Irungu had earlier invited Kenyans to join his charity walk and help raise awareness about cancer.
The campaign, organised under the Jimmy Irungu Cancer Foundation, will take the form of a charity walk scheduled for February 21, 2026, starting at 10:00 am.
Participants will gather at Mukuyu, from where the walk will commence and proceed to Ihura Stadium, where a grand awareness event will be held.
“Prepare yourself now. Jimmy Irungu Cancer Foundation Charity Walk, February 21, 2026, from 10:00 am. The walk will start at Mukuyu and end with grand awareness at Ihura Stadium,” Jimmy Irungu said.
Irungu’s tree-hugging challenge
The pastor failed to complete the challenge after collapsing during the 79th hour of his 80-hour tree-hugging drive and was rushed to Murang’a Level 5 Hospital for medical attention.
He was expected to complete the 80-hour challenge on Thursday, January 8, at 5:27 am, just an hour after the incident.
Jimmy commenced the 80-hour tree-hugging challenge on Sunday, January 4, 2026, to raise awareness about cancer.
In an interview the preacher, who is also a gospel singer, said he was motivated by the growing number of cancer cases affecting Kenyan families and communities.
“Today, I am going to be embarking on an 80-hour challenge to raise awareness about cancer. Cancer has become a tragedy. I know that even the viewers know of someone, even in their family, who might have been affected by cancer,” he said.
“It is my appeal to the government and relevant private institutions to rise and fight against this illness. The reason why I have decided to hug a tree, which many people have been criticising me for saying it was Truphena’s idea and which is actually true, is this,” he said during an interview with Kikuyu YouTuber Paxson Chege Ngunya.
“This is to show you that if we can be mindful and take care of what surrounds us, then we can fight cancer. For example, when you feed your cow feed that has chemicals, and then the butcher sells that meat to you later, these chemicals can cause cancer. If we take care of what is around us, then that can be the start of fighting cancer. Let us fight this cancer together.”
