James Kagambi, arguably one of the best mountaineers in Africa, has said he wrote a will before embarking on climbing Mt Everest in May last year.
The 63-year-old said he had instructed his wife on what she was to do if he did not come back.
Kagambi said he did what many people fear to do because he realised that human beings came from somewhere and have to go back there.
However, he said that he was determined to do it and was ready if it meant not coming back.
But as he started ascending the mountains, questions such as whether he would really make it to the top and whether he would go back home kept lingering in his mind.
On his way up, Kagambi said he encountered many corpses of people who had unsuccessfully attempted to reach the summit of the mountain. However, he said that did not discourage him.
He said he made the decision to continue after he was approached and asked to join a team of Americans who were preparing to summit it.
“I asked them why they were calling me. I can give you another Kenyan,” Kagambi said.
But they insisted they wanted him on their journey.
“I accepted for my county, my family, myself, my [country] Kenya and I succeeded in May, 2022,” he said, adding that it was not an easy task but he had the courage because he has conquered many other mountains.
Kagambi believes God wanted him to climb Mt Everest so he could be recognised and honoured.
He has since received a lot of honours in the US and will be travelling back to New York in March to participate in a talk, alongside former US vice president Al Gore, on climate change.
Kagambi is the first Kenyan citizen to reach the top of the mountain.
However, there have been other Kenyan residents (not citizens) who have achieved the same feat.
He said the major challenge barring many people from engaging in the activity is the expense involved as it can cost up to Sh10 million for one person.
Though the money had been availed, no one had volunteered to support him to train until Betika came on board.
He said he was facilitated by the company, enabling him to go to Mt Kenya as well as Rwenzori Mountains in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kagambi, who trains porters, guides and Kenya Wildlife Service rangers on rock climbing, said he is willing to go give motivational talks if facilitated.
“I am doing it even now but to those people who can support me,” he said.
Governor Mutahi Kahiga on Friday, January 13, said that the county had elevated Kagambi to a high profile tourism ambassador for Nyeri.
The governor honoured and crowned him as a hero in an event held outside his offices in Nyeri town.
Kahiga congratulated him for being focused and asked the national government to recognise and honour Kagambi when honouring other national heroes during national celebrations.
“We want to urge the Ministry of Sports and Culture to recognise Kagambi and honour him like a Kenyan hero too,” the governor said.
“Ours is to appreciate you. And as we appreciate you, we are glad because you have made us proud and have not become a selfish man. You are building others.”
The county chief told him to keep the fire burning and to ensure he leaves his footprints by training and mentoring as many mountaineers as he can.
On May 12 last year, Kagambi led several other people to climb the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest, which is 8,849 metres. The mountain, which is about 29,032 feet tall, is located in Himalayan mountains between Nepal and Tibet.
Since 1953, about 6,000 climbers have reached the top of the mountain, but only eight were black Africans.
(edited by Amol Awuor)