Outside the Box
NMG hikers eye final stretch
Daily Nation's Anniel Njoka signs in at the the Kilimanjaro National Park, Machame Gate October 15, 2011. LAWRENCE OKAYO
The excursion by 42 Nation Media Group employees to scale Mt Kilimanjaro entered the final and hardest stretch Tuesday morning.
The team—which is hoping to raise at least Sh60 million to be invested in several famine eradication projects countrywide—spent spent their Monday night at Barranco Camp, over 4500 metres above sea level before embarking on the most treacherous climb through Barranco cliffs to Karanga camp.
At Barranco, temperatures have fallen below zero degrees celcius and most of the climbers are complaining of altitude sickness.
According to Tanari Trust Trustee Muhia Karianjahi, the team will spend Tuesday night at Karanga camp before proceeding to Barafu Camp as they prepare to summit on Wednesday night.
“So far, the team is coping. I am impressed by the performance” said Mr Karianjahi.
The team will reach the summit early Thursday morning –at Uhuru Point, Africa’s rooftop. The descent will take two days.
The climb was officially flagged off last Friday by the NMG human resources director Mwikali Muthiani at the group's headquarters at Nation Centre, Nairobi.
Ms Muthiani said the funds raised through the campaign will be put into longterm projects to alleviate hunger in drought hit areas.
Currently, over four million Kenyans are facing starvation due to food shortages as drought continues to ravage different parts of the country.
High food prices have only worsened the situation which has also hit the horn of Africa becoming the worst drought in 60 years.
While the government has put in place several initiatives to stem the famine, corporate are taking up similar supplementary projects.
Over the last two months, an initiative dubbed Kenyans for Kenya has raised close to Sh1 billion to help in food purchases in drought stricken areas.
The initiative was led by Kenya Red Cross and supported by the Media Owners Association and several corporate organisations.
The NMG employees have had to endure difficult terrain and wet weather conditions during the expedition, which is facilitated by Tanari Trust, an adventure programming firm.
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