Meet 74-year-old Kakamega man who transversed counties on bicycle to attend Mashujaa Day celebrations

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 19 Oct, 2021 16:04 | 2 mins read
Zaloshua Amani,74, from Butere Kakamega. PHOTO/WANGARI NJUGUNA

Zaloshua Amani,74, from Butere Kakamega has been transversing several counties while riding on his bicycle with the intent to reach Kirinyaga county to attend the Mashujaa day celebrations which shall be held tomorrow.

Amani said he left his home about two months ago, and he has been making stopovers in several places to preach his message of peace.

With his bicycle which has been adorned with a number of flags for various countries, the elderly man has braved the scorching sun and cold night to accomplish his mission.

K24- Digital caught up with him in Murang'a on Monday evening on his way to Kirinyaga and he narrated how his journey has been.

"I left home about two months ago where I intended to attend the 58th Mashujaa day celebrations but on the way, I have been making several stopovers to talk to the public about peace," he said.

Amani said the freedom fighters fought for the independence of this country for Kenyans to live together in harmony which has not been the case.

He said he has witnessed a lot of violence in the country years back and fears that we might plunge back there during the electioneering period.

"I am sad that as a country we have lost direction, people are fighting each other, property being destroyed and even loss of lives" he added.

"My mission is to preach peace to the people that we don't rise up against each other," he said.

The self-proclaimed peace ambassador however said his greyed desire would be to meet the head of state president Uhuru Kenyatta and other top government officials.

He said since he started his mission about three decades ago he has never had a chance to meet any leader neither has he gotten any assistance from them.

"I started my mission during Moi's era, then-President Mwai Kibaki came in and now we have Uhuru but I never got a chance to meet any of them," he said.

His journey however has not been without challenges as he has encountered hostile people and has been involved in accidents several times escaping death by a whisker.

"Finances are also a big challenge because I look up to no one to fund my trip wherever I go," he said.

Amani said his family supports his mission and he is hopeful that his efforts shall eventually pay off adding that he shall only rest when his body strength fails him.