Jimmy Irungu launches new cancer awareness drive after 80-hour tree-hugging failure
By Valerian Khakayi, January 22, 2026Murangá Pastor James Irungu, widely known as Jimmy, has announced a new cancer awareness initiative following his recent 80-hour tree-hugging challenge, which he was unable to complete.
Taking to his official Facebook account, Irungu, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, shared a poster inviting 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.
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.”
Irungu dismissed claims that he was seeking fame or records, saying his motivation was deeply personal and rooted in concern for public health.
“Niliamua ku hugg mti kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wa cancer. Ugonjwa wa cancer umekuwa ukisumbua watu sana na kumaliza watu wengi,” he said.
Irungu explained that cancer has silently become one of the deadliest diseases in the country, forcing families to exhaust their savings in search of treatment abroad.
“Watu wamekua wakienda India kupata matibabu. Nikaamua nikuje hapa kwa mti kwa masaa eighty ili tuonyeshe ya kwamba huu ugonjwa ni hatari,” he added.