Meru man seeks title for longest hair, beard in Kenya

A 59-year old man from Kambakia village in Meru County is eyeing the record for the longest African natural hair in the country.

Though he started sporting a goatee and dreadlocks as a show of solidarity with proponents of multi-party democracy in the 1990s, Mr William Kaimenyi Rimberia has not shaved his hair and beard for the last 33 years.

The beard and the dreadlocks are now thick and strong, measuring at least one metre long.

Following the repeal in December 1991of Section 2(a) of the constitution that prohibited pluralism in Kenya, Mr Kaimenyi says he decided not to shave his hair after realising that many social injustices were still going on.

RIGHTS ACTIVIST

He says the long hair, mainly associated with the Mau Mau freedom fighters, keeps the fire in him to fight for various rights burning and, to him, is a show of boldness.

“I only intended to grow the beard and long hair until we got the second liberation but I decided I should continue sporting it as I joined activism. I wanted to fight for the rights of widows and the downtrodden in the society,” he said.

Mr Kaimenyi, who is a Njuri Ncheke elder, moves from one village to another seeking intervention on various issues for widows and other oppressed people.

“Most of these people are still suffering in silence. For example, I am following a case of a widow whose land was seized in Maua town and a church built on it. The woman obtained orders that it be demolished in 2014 but it has not happened,” he said.

NOT MARRIED

Despite his activism, Mr Kaimenyi says he is yet to settle down and start a family.

He says his long hair attracts curious onlookers, with many taking pictures with him.

Mr Kaimenyi says even when some years back long hair was associated with proscribed Munguki sect, he has never been harassed because of his hairstyle.

“People usually stop me on the road just to admire the hair. There was a time I went to the Supreme Court to pursue a case and people were amazed. I came to admire the style and I sport it for beauty and I feel comfortable having it. The long hair does not hurt when I sleep,” he said in an interview.

WORLD RECORD

Mr Hans Nilsen Langseth who died in 1927 holds the world record for the longest beard which was 17 feet and six inches long.

But the beard belonging to the Norwegian who was widely known as the king of whiskers, was only measured during his burial in Kensett, Iowa.

Mr Paul Wright from Great Britain who is also listed as being among the top 10 men with longest beards only embraced the hobby about seven years ago and has a beard measuring two feet and two inches.

Mr Kaimenyi has a chance of making it to the record books since his beard is compact and has not been combed, relaxed or straightened for many years.