Carrying the pain of a nation and a letter for the President, Biez Kaviru conquers the tarmac from Kitui to Nairobi to demand cancer be declared a national disaster.

It is a journey measured not just in kilometers, but in the heartache of millions. Kamba musician Eric Mutuku Mwinzi, popularly known as Biez Kaviru, has completed a punishing 170-kilometer walk from Kitui to Nairobi. His mission was singular and desperate: to deliver a petition to President William Ruto at State House, urging him to declare cancer a national disaster. The trek, which took four days, has captured the imagination of the country and shone a harsh spotlight on the silent killer ravaging Kenyan families.

Walking Through the Pain

Kaviru’s motivation is deeply personal. Like too many Kenyans, he has felt the cold sting of cancer, losing his mother to the disease. "Cancer Killed My Mum," was the rallying cry that fueled his steps as he walked through the scorching heat of Ukambani and the bustling chaos of the Nairobi highway. He was not alone. Along the way, ordinary citizens joined him, offering water, encouragement, and sharing their own stories of loss. The walk transformed from a solo protest into a moving caravan of hope.

Support also came from high places. Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., moved by the musician’s resolve, dispatched an ambulance and medical team to monitor his health as he neared the capital. It was a gesture of solidarity that highlighted the urgency of the cause. Kaviru’s physical exhaustion was evident as he arrived in the CBD, but his spirit remained unbroken, clutching the large envelope branded "To the President" like a sacred relic.

• The Demand: Kaviru argues that declaring cancer a national disaster will unlock emergency funding, lower treatment costs, and prioritize the disease just like floods or drought.
• National Outcry: The hashtag #CancerFighter has trended for days, with Kenyans pressuring the government to stop treating cancer care as a luxury and start treating it as a human right.

A Letter to the President

The climax of this odyssey was the delivery of the letter to Harambee House. Kaviru’s plea is simple: the current system is failing. Families are being auctioned into poverty to pay for chemotherapy, and diagnosis often comes too late. By walking 170 kilometers, he has physically bridged the gap between the suffering in the villages and the power in the capital.

As Biez Kaviru rests his weary feet, the ball is now in President Ruto’s court. The musician has done his part, turning his grief into action. The question remains: will the government listen to the footsteps of one man who walked for those who can no longer walk themselves?