Pastor James “Jimmy” Irungu was on Thursday rushed to Murang’a County Hospital after collapsing during the final hour of his ambitious attempt to hug a tree continuously for 80 hours as part of a campaign to raise awareness about cancer.
The clergyman fell just 50 minutes short of completing the full challenge, managing 79 hours before his body gave in to exhaustion. Medical personnel at the scene acted swiftly to stabilize him before transferring him to Murang’a County Referral Hospital (MCRH) for further treatment.
Despite not completing the full 80 hours, Pastor Irungu successfully broke the previous 72-hour tree-hugging record set by Truphena Muthoni HSC, marking a new milestone in endurance-based activism aimed at social awareness.
Following the incident, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata assigned county administration officials and a medical team to ensure Pastor Irungu’s well-being. The response has been led by CEC for Youth and Sports Gachucha Manoah, who has been issuing regular updates on the pastor’s condition from MCRH.
Hospital officials confirmed that Pastor Irungu is in a stable condition and remains under medical observation.
The unconventional challenge has attracted national attention, sparking widespread debate across social and mainstream media. While some critics questioned the originality of the approach, supporters maintain that the core objective—raising cancer awareness—was effectively achieved.
Supporters have further pointed out that record-setting efforts often build on earlier milestones, noting that Truphena Muthoni herself surpassed a previous attempt before setting the 72-hour record.
As messages of goodwill continue to pour in, many Kenyans have praised Pastor Irungu for his resilience and for using an unconventional platform to spotlight a critical public health issue.
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