Kakamega Man Who Cycled from Nairobi to Aid Ailing Cancer-Stricken Dad Appeals for Medical Support
- Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Joel Komba, a 28-year-old from Lugari, appealed for urgent financial help to treat his father, who is battling stage four cancer and requires immediate surgery
- Despite selling family land and grinding food for easier digestion, the family remains overwhelmed by medical costs, with Komba fearing his father's condition may worsen
- The father of two also pleaded with sponsors who can train and assist him to turn his passion for cycling into a professional career
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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Nairobi: A 28-year-old man from Lugari, Kakamega county, is making an emotional plea for help as his father battles stage four cancer under dire conditions.
Source: Original
Joel Komba, the fifth-born in a family of eight, travelled to his village in January after learning of his father Luka Amuli’s worsening health.
Why is Joel Komba seeking help?
Since then, he has been doing everything he can — emotionally and financially — to support him, but says he's now overwhelmed.
“My father’s condition is deteriorating with each passing day,” Komba told TUKO.co.ke. “He’s coughing blood, he can barely eat, and he needs urgent surgery. But before that, doctors say he must be well-fed — and even that is a challenge.”
Komba said they grind all his father’s meals at a local posho mill to make swallowing easier.
His mother, now the primary caregiver, recently admitted him to Webuye Hospital despite not having the funds to pay for treatment.
“We’ve sold land just to keep him going. But it’s not enough. We are running out of options. My mum says being at home makes him worse so she took him to the hospital today with no cash. We fear the worst might happen if we do not get him the help he needs,” Komba said.
The talented man, who works as a casual labourer in Nairobi, is now calling on well-wishers to help raise money for treatment.
He said doctors initially estimated the cost at KSh 200,000, but with the rapid deterioration of his father’s condition, the amount could be more.
“I’m doing everything I can, but the bills keep piling up. I just want my father to survive. I’m pleading with anyone who can help us — please, help save his life,” he appealed.
For the devastated family, time is running out. Their hope now lies in the kindness of strangers willing to extend a lifeline when they need it most.
Why did Joel Komba cycle to Kakamega?
The father of two revealed that he could not afford transport to his home, located nearly 370 kilometres away.
Faced with no other option, he decided to cycle the distance, using a bicycle he had purchased with his savings for short trips around the city.
"The situation was dire, and the only option available to me was my bicycle," Komba explained. "I didn’t have the money for transport, but I had to get home to my father."
"This experience proved to me that anything is possible. Cycling home seemed impossible at first, but I had no choice but to try, and I succeeded," he added.
Along the way, Komba encountered a dangerous situation when two men attempted to rob him of his bicycle near Nakuru, in Kamara Forest.
Source: Original
Using his wits and endurance, he managed to escape unharmed. During his journey, he also received support from a kind-hearted hotel owner who offered him a free place to rest, helping him continue on his mission.
Komba now dreams of turning his passion for cycling into a professional career. With the right support and sponsorship, he hopes to pursue athletics and long-distance cycling.
He also envisions using his cycling expeditions to raise awareness about important issues, including cancer, which has had a devastating impact on his family.
"I am calling out for a sponsor who can help me with training. Currently, I ride 42 kilometers in two hours and 28 minutes, and 30 kilometers in one hour and 15 minutes. Despite the challenges, I am confident that with the right support, I can compete in cycling competitions and even win," he stated.
To help Komba's dad, reach him through +254 702 665068.
Nairobi family seeks KSh 4m hospital bill for preterm twins
In other news, a Nairobi family is urgently seeking financial assistance to settle a growing hospital bill after their premature twin sons were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) over two weeks ago.
The infants are battling multiple health complications, including infections, jaundice, and breathing difficulties, requiring intensive and costly care.
As of March 20, the total hospital bill has reached KSh 4,034,257, with a remaining balance of KSh 3,345,474.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
