75 year old Kenyan man starts 400km walk in bid to raise funds

Isaac Gacugo, 75 signs a visitor’s book at Governor Martin Wambora’s office. He has embarked on a 400 km walk around Mt Kenya to raise funds for physically challenged children at Kivuria Children’s Home in Embu County to meet their medical bills.

He may be 75 years old but Isaac Gacugo has the energy of a man 50 years younger.

Driven by a passion to help the less fortunate, Mr Gacugo is looking to make history by walking 400km around Mt Kenya.

On Monday, a sizeable crowd gathered in Embu town to witness Gacugo begin his audacious journey that is meant to raise funds for physically challenged children at Kivuria Children's Home.

Gacugo plans to walk for 13 days across six counties to raise funds that will enable some of the children to have urgent surgery that has been delayed by lack money.

"I visited the orphanage and saw the children suffering. I decided to walk to try and raise funds to meet their medical bills which have hit close to Sh5 million," he said.

Gacugo plans to create awareness about disability as he walk from Embu to Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.

He will also carry a peace torch and preach peace during the electioneering period.

His last stop will be Karurumo in Embu County on February 4, 2017.

Governor Martin Wambora, who flagged off the walk, described Gacugo as a beacon of hope for many and asked Kenyans to emulate him.