By Wanjiku Hilda
Finally, tonight we head up. A no-oxygen attempt comes with its own special preparations and risks; physically, my body is ready.
This was the last Instagram post made by Kenyan climber Cheruiyot Kirui, who was found dead on Thursday after his escapade on the world’s highest peak, Everest, turned tragic.
Cheruiyot, who worked for the Kenya Commercial Bank, and his guide, Nawang, disappeared on Wednesday after attempting to summit the mountain without supplementary oxygen.
The 40-year-old embarked on Phase 2 of ‘Project Death Zone’ on April 18, 2024.
He kept meticulous documentation of his process on Instagram, detailing the purpose, motivation, and training he underwent in order to attempt such a daring endeavor.
The mountaineer made somewhat reasonable preparations before the summit, such as heated pair of gloves and socks, spare batteries, and emergency oxygen, which would be ferried to him by his guide.
Additionally, he elaborated on the physical, mental, and financial commitment he made to this endeavour while juggling his typical 8-to-5 banking job.
Cheruiyot’s ambitious quest was supported by his fellow mountaineer James Muhia, with whom he had previously summited Phase 2 of ‘Project Death Zone’, Manaslu Summit.
They were the first Africans to summit Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain peak, with no supplemental oxygen or Sherpa support.
His death deeply shocked and saddened the Kenyan fraternity, prompting some members to take to social media to express their grief and condolences.
“I have found myself shedding tears this morning after confirmation that my brother has rested on the mountain. No one can ever understand the heart and mind of a mountaineer. Our brother is now one with the mountain,” Muhia wrote on X.
Cheruiyot’s body was discovered by a rescue team in the ‘death zone’, an area above 8,000 meters, just a few metres below the summit on Thursday morning, marking the fourth fatality on Everest within the same week.
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